China has completed a full-process flight test of its S4000 helium airship airborne wind turbine (SAWES) at a base in Northwest China, covering ascent, station-keeping, power generation testing, and smooth recovery, with all indicators meeting required standards.
State-run outlet Global Times reported the test marks a new breakthrough in China's high-altitude wind power technology and verifies the system's reliability in complex and extreme high-altitude environments.
The S4000 is an upgraded version of the earlier S2000 SAWES, which flew to 2,000 metres and generated electricity, feeding 385 kWh into the power grid.
The S4000 adopts a new configuration with improved overall performance, with a maximum operational altitude of up to 4,000 metres, making it suitable for deployment in the vast majority of regions across China.
The Chinese system consists of a ground station and a helium airship with turbines connected by a conductive tether.
