"Wind turbines usually jut up from the ground like giant pinwheels. Now a company in China is exploring a new form factor: flying wind turbines. These zeppelin-like aircraft float high in the sky, tethered to the ground only by cables as they generate a nonstop stream of power thanks to the strong winds present in the upper layers of the atmosphere."
"The concept was first proposed by a Chinese engineer who was among the pioneers of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the mid-1940s. It never took off in the U.S., but the Chinese energy startup Sawes claims it is ready to deploy thousands of floating turbines that can produce 100 kilowatts, which is the same output of the ground windmills that now power everything from small to midsize commercial structures and agricultural operations to industrial facilities."
Zeppelin-like airborne wind turbines float high in the atmosphere, tethered to the ground and driven by stronger, more constant winds than ground-level turbines. High-altitude operation promises steadier power output and reduced variability compared with conventional stationary turbines. The design could lower infrastructure needs and shrink wind power's environmental footprint while enabling nonstop generation. Chinese startup Sawes reports readiness to deploy thousands of floating turbines producing 100 kilowatts each and is developing a model to exceed one megawatt. The airborne concept traces back to Shanghai-born aerospace engineer Qian Xuesen, an early Jet Propulsion Laboratory pioneer who left the U.S. after McCarthy-era suspicions.
Read at Fast Company
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