China Successfully Tests World's Largest High-Altitude Wind Energy Kite

A significant milestone in renewable energy technology was achieved on November 12, 2025, when the China Energy Engineering Corporation successfully tested the world's largest kite designed for generating electricity from high-altitude wind currents. The groundbreaking trial took place in Alashan Zuoqi, located within the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, marking a crucial step forward for high-altitude wind power development across China. This innovative approach, known as Airborne Wind Energy (AWE), leverages the stronger and more consistent winds found at greater elevations, setting it apart from conventional wind turbine installations.

The core of the testing involved deploying a massive primary kite, boasting a surface area of 5,000 square meters. Initially, a helium aerostat was utilized to lift the apparatus to an altitude exceeding 300 meters. Once airborne and fully deployed, the kite began driving a ground-based generator, producing electrical power via an attached tether or traction cable. Furthermore, the scalability of the system was demonstrated through the successful deployment of two smaller kites, each measuring 1,200 square meters in area, confirming the potential for large-scale application of this novel technology.

This system was developed as part of the People's Republic of China's first national research and development project specifically focused on high-altitude wind power. The economic and environmental advantages of this innovative design are substantial when compared to traditional wind farms. Key benefits include remarkable resource savings: the system offers a potential reduction in required land area by up to 95 percent, alongside a projected decrease in steel consumption by 90 percent. Moreover, preliminary calculations estimate that the cost of generating electricity could be lowered by approximately 30 percent, making AWE a highly competitive energy source.

The proposed 10 MW system is projected to generate roughly 20 million kilowatt-hours annually. This substantial output is sufficient to meet the energy demands of approximately 10,000 households. While typical wind turbines operate at heights up to 200 meters, this new technology is specifically engineered to harness the denser and more stable winds available above 300 meters. Looking ahead, the developers have ambitious plans to eventually reach operational altitudes exceeding 5 kilometers, tapping into the powerful jet streams.

According to He Shaolei, the Chief Technical Expert at China Power Engineering Consulting Group Limited, the subsequent phase of development will require several years of comprehensive testing involving multiple kites. He confirmed that the plan is to initiate testing of full-scale energy production by the end of 2026. This methodical, phased approach is characteristic of the introduction of complex new energy technologies. Although China already leads the world in installed wind power capacity, research initiatives like this underscore the nation's unwavering commitment to achieving technological sovereignty in the clean energy sector. Successfully managing large-scale aerial devices that utilize aerodynamic drag is deemed a critical prerequisite for the eventual commercialization of Airborne Wind Energy.