China tested a megawatt-class airborne wind power system that flew to 6,560 feet and fed 385 kWh of electricity into the grid in Sichuan.

A Beijing-based energy company has taken a major step toward commercial airborne wind power after completing the maiden flight and grid-connected power generation test of its megawatt-class system in Southwest China.

The test took place on Sunday in Yibin, Sichuan Province, where the floating wind power platform rose to about 6,560 feet (2,000 meters) and successfully delivered electricity to the grid, as reported by China’s state-backed Global Times.

      • Starfighter@discuss.tchncs.de
        5·
        3 months ago

        You would think so but even normal ground-fastened wind turbines shut off when winds get too strong.

        This being somewhat of an aircraft I absolutely expect them having to land it before storms roll in.

        If you land it facing up- or downwards and deflate the balloon segments it would probably be fairly flat and compact for storage.

  • Pyr@lemmy.ca
    1·
    3 months ago

    How often does it need to be reached with helium?

    I imagine it has some portion of leakage through the material and it’s a lot of friggen helium, which is already in dwindling supply.