China tests world’s largest megawatt-level flying 'windmill' airship

China has successfully completed the maiden flight of the S1500, the world’s largest megawatt-level airborne wind turbine, in Hami, Xinjiang. The Zeppelin-like airship measures about 60 meters long, 40 meters wide, and 40 meters tall, and features 12 turbine-generator sets inside a giant duct formed by its main airfoil and annular wing. Unlike traditional wind turbines, the S1500 floats in the sky without requiring towers or deep foundations, reducing material use by 40% and electricity costs by 30%. It can be rapidly deployed and relocated, making it suitable for remote locations such as deserts, islands, and mining sites. The S1500 builds on previous prototypes (S500 and S1000) that demonstrated the feasibility of harvesting high-altitude winds, which are stronger and steadier than surface winds. These high-altitude winds, found between 500 and 10,000 meters above ground, offer exponentially greater energy potential due to the physics