In Hami, Xinjiang, China has successfully completed the first flight of the S1500, a home designed floating wind turbine.
According to Beijing SAWES Energy Technology Co., Ltd., one of the developers, it is the largest airborne wind-power generator ever constructed, measuring roughly 197 feet long, 131 feet wide, and 131 feet tall.
The main airfoil and annular wing of the S1500 combine to create a massive duct. There are twelve turbine-generator sets, each with a 100 kW rating, inside this duct. These rotors generate electricity by harnessing consistent high-altitude winds. A tether cable is used to send the power to the ground, Chinese media reports.
Tsinghua University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) collaborated with SAWES to develop the airship.
