From September 19 to 21, the S1500 Suspended Airborne Wind Energy System (SAWES), independently developed by Beijing Linyi Yunchuan Energy Technology Co., Ltd., successfully completed a series of scheduled tests at the Naomaohu Base in Hami, Xinjiang. These tests included overall assembly under Gobi conditions, configuration pressure-holding tests, and deployment-retraction operations under strong winds day and night.This marks the successful maiden test flight of the world’s first megawatt-class commercial airborne wind power system, representing a crucial step forward for China in “harvesting electricity from the sky”.

The S1500 system measures 60 meters in length, 40 meters in width, and 40 meters in height, with an appearance similar to an airship. It has a designed power output of 1 megawatt (MW), making it the world’s largest airborne wind power device to date. Its main airbag and annular wings form a giant duct, equipped with 12 sets of 100-kilowatt generator units. It uses the stable and strong high-altitude winds to drive the impellers, and stably transmits electric power to the ground via tethers. Compared with traditional onshore wind turbines, the airborne wind power system does not require the construction of large-tonnage towers and features a simplified foundation structure. It can reduce material consumption by 40%, cut the levelized cost of electricity by 30%, and enable rapid relocation. It is suitable for scenarios such as the Gobi Desert, islands, and mining areas.High-altitude winds are strong and stable, several times faster than ground-level winds. According to the principle of wind power generation, power output is proportional to the cube of wind speed, which indicates that high altitudes contain enormous energy potential.

The R&D team, in collaboration with Tsinghua University, the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and other authoritative research institutions, has successively overcome key technical challenges, including aerostat stability, lightweight motors, and kilometer‑scale high‑voltage power transmission.In October 2024, the SAWES‑500 took the lead in ascending to 500 meters, with a power output of 50 kilowatts. In January 2025, the SAWES‑1000 ascended to 1,000 meters, achieving a power output of 100 kilowatts. These achievements laid a solid foundation for the application of this megawatt‑scale system.