this post was submitted on 25 Sep 2025
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'Windmill': China tests world’s first megawatt-level airship to capture high winds (interestingengineering.com)
submitted 1 day ago by kalkulat@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
161 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

"High-altitude winds between 1,640 and 3,281 feet (500 and 10,000 meters) above the ground are stronger and steadier than surface winds. These winds are abundant, widely available, and carbon-free.

"The physics of wind power makes this resource extremely valuable. “When wind speed doubles, the energy it carries increases eightfold, triple the speed, and you have 27 times the energy,” explained Gong Zeqi "

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[–] BombOmOm@lemmy.world 3 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (1 children)

Why can’t the airship automatically raise and lower itself?

It doesn't just need to be lowered, that would leave it exposed still. It needs to deflated/reinflated every storm, while also having someone strap the carefully folded deflated bits down, or put itself into a very expensive massive hangar every storm. Are these possible, yes, but again, it needs to be economical, not just possible.

Weather has always been a severe issue with airships. It's the main reason you don't see them filling the sky.

[–] Nighed@feddit.uk 2 points 13 hours ago

Does the article actually list the target altitude for this version?

I think I was imagining something much higher. You're probably right.