On 5 January 2026, the skies of Yibin were briefly darkened by the S2000 Stratosphere Airborne Wind Energy System (SAWES) – a buoyant air turbine (BAT) measuring 60m in length, 40m in width and 40m in height (197 × 131 × 131ft).

The helium-powered platform rose to around 2,000m (6,560ft) in 30 minutes, generating 385kWh-hours (kWh) of power for the local grid. If claims around the device are correct, it is the world’s first megawatt-scale high-altitude wind power device to be formally connected to the grid. 

Read more in Power Technology here.

The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.