Beijing SAWES tests airborne wind turbine prototype up to 4 km altitude

In Yueyang, Hunan Province, China, engineers completed a flight test of an airborne wind energy generation platform capable of reaching an operating altitude of 4,000 meters, ua.news reported ua.newsua.newsua.newsOpen source ↗. Developed by Beijing SAWES TO ONE Technology, the demonstrator was put through its first trial in an urban environment to evaluate control stability and operational safety near populated areas.

Platform dimensions and power transmission

According to the developer, the Stratosphere Airborne Wind Energy System measures 67 meters in length, 40 meters in width, and 23 meters in height. The structure consists of a helium-filled aerostat that lifts lightweight generating modules several kilometers aloft, where wind patterns are more stable. The generated electric power is routed to the ground via conductive tether cables, with an output voltage rated between 10 and 35 kilovolts. The manufacturer has targeted a service life of 20 years for the system.

Flight stability and deployment goals

During the trial in Yueyang, operators monitored the platform's response to complex airflows and evaluated its behavior within complex magnetic field conditions. Dun Tianrui, founder and CEO of the company, stated that the urban test served to assess the installation's safety and reliability when operated close to residential districts. Cai Rong, a researcher from the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, noted that the tests verified rapid deployment procedures and the engineering feasibility of deploying such airborne units near cities. The developer intends the technology for direct grid integration as well as for remote mining sites, islands, and mountainous regions.