- Chinese company tests megawatt-class aerial wind system that feeds electricity to the grid
- The S2000 airship elevated with helium reaches 2 km and generates energy for the grid
- Developers target urban and off-grid wind power applications
A Chinese company has tested what it describes as the world’s first megawatt aerial wind power system designed to feed electricity directly into the grid.
The helium-elevated platform, known as S2000, rose to about 6,560 feet and generated power during a recent flight test in southwest China.
The system was developed by Beijing-based Linyi Yunchuan Energy Technology and completed its first grid connection test near Yibin in Sichuan province.
The first MW-class S2000 Stratospheric Airborne Wind Energy System (SAWES) for urban use has successfully completed a test flight in Yibin, Sichuan Province, southwest China. During the test, the system ascended to an altitude of 2,000 meters, generating and feeding 385… pic.twitter.com/CFynQ6h0b8January 13, 2026
385 kilowatt hours of electricity
During the flight, the aircraft climbed approximately 2 km and generated 385 kilowatt hours of electricity, which was injected into the local grid.
The test marked the first demonstration of real-world power generation for the S2000, also called the Stratosphere Airborne Wind Energy System, or SAWES.
Visually, the platform resembles a large aircraft, with a floating envelope and an integrated power generation structure suspended below it.
The company said the system measures about 197 feet long and 131 feet wide and high, making it suitable for deployment closer to urban areas than many experimental airborne wind systems.
The S2000 relies on a helium-filled aerostat to lift a lightweight wind power unit into higher altitude wind layers, where airflow is typically stronger and more stable.
The electricity generated high above is transmitted to the ground via a belt, which also plays a role in stabilizing and positioning the platform.
Weng Hanke, chief technology officer of Linyi Yunchuan, said the company is targeting both off-grid uses and integration with conventional wind farms.
“One is for off-grid environments, such as border posts, where it can serve as a relatively stable conventional energy source. The other is to complement traditional onshore wind energy systems, creating a three-dimensional approach to energy supply,” he said.
A key feature of the design is its ducted airflow system, formed between the main envelope and an annular wing.
“It’s like wrapping the wind from all sides, restricting the airflow inside this duct so that the blades capture as much wind as possible. We have deployed 12 wind turbines in this duct,” Weng said.
The company claims that the system can reach a nominal capacity of up to 3 MW, supported by a total volume of almost 20,000 cubic meters.
Linyi Yunchuan has started small batch production and is planning to expand envelope material manufacturing capacity in Zhejiang province.
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