The world's first urban megawatt-level airborne wind turbine system, S2000, has been operating stably at an altitude of 2,000 meters in Yibin, southwest China's Sichuan Province, since Jan 5.

The system generated 385 kilowatt-hours of power in a single day, setting an industry record.

At an altitude of 2,000 meters, wind speeds can be several times higher than at ground level, and wind energy density is approximately tens of times higher. This means that a wind turbine of the same size can generate tens of times more electricity at high altitudes in the same amount of time than one at ground level.

Dun Tianrui, co-founder of Sawestoone Company, the developer of the S2000, said the biggest challenge in development was the generator's weight, but China's advanced new energy technology system has largely resolved this issue.

"Initially, everyone thought that a big challenge to developing the airborne wind turbine was its weight. A three-megawatt motor would normally weigh tens of tons, and placing such a large motor high in the air seemed completely impractical. However, as we began researching this equipment, we discovered that with the development of green electricity and new energy technologies in China, the weight issue had been resolved by the market and our country's industrial system," he said.

When equipped with a 3.6-MW motor, the S2000 is essentially a power plant floating above the city, transmitting electricity down via medium-voltage DC cables. Under ideal conditions, its annual power generation could meet the electricity needs of nearly 3,000 households.

Since 2024, Sawestoone has successfully developed and tested the S500, S1500 and S2000, setting one record after another in flying height and power generation in the industry.

Dun said that the helium circulation system and advanced architectural design of the airborne wind turbine have brought its cost-performance ratio to a world-leading level.

"The core of the entire system is the helium circulation. Currently, you can find the patent for the basic principle of this system, but how it actually works is highly confidential. This system ensures there are no gas leaks in the airship. The second is our entire aerodynamic design architecture, whose lift-to-drag ratio can reach an astonishing level," Dun said.

"We believe that to meet the demands of the new quality productive forces or hard technology, there is a very simple standard: you can make it cheaper and solve people's needs at the root. For example, when the price of green electricity drops significantly and no longer depends on the extremely complex grid system dispatch, everything becomes completely different," he said.

Long-term research data shows that high-altitude wind energy is a rich source of green electricity. Today, Dun and his partner, Weng Hanke, are leading their team toward even higher goals.

"Next, we plan to conduct trials at altitudes above 4,000 meters. The wind at 4,000 meters is actually better than at 2,000 meters, especially in places like Sichuan, which is located in a basin. At 2,000 meters, the wind is slightly affected by the terrain, so at 4,000 meters, its application scenarios will be more extensive," Weng said.