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China's SAWES project has created airborne wind turbines using helium-filled aerostats as a low-impact alternative to conventional wind turbines. The S2000 prototype, which debuted in October 2024, completed a test in January 2026, floating at 2,000 meters and generating 385 kilowatt hours.

This megawatt-class system features 12 turbines with a total capacity of 3 megawatts. The project, involving Tsinghua University and Beijing SAWES Energy Technology, has filed 51 patents by 2025. The initiative aims to contribute to the global wind energy sector, which is projected to double in capacity by 2030.