On Wednesday, November 12, 2025, engineers in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region celebrated a major breakthrough: the world’s largest high-altitude wind energy kite, covering 5,000 square meters, took flight at a test site in Alxa Left Banner.
Unlike traditional turbines with towers and blades, this giant kite uses a helium balloon to lift an airborne wing up to 300 meters, where steady winds spin traction cables that drive a ground-based generator. Think of it as a high-tech sky surfer riding the wind! 🌬️🪁
Why does it matter? High-altitude wind energy can save up to 95 percent of land use, cut steel demand by 90 percent, and slash electricity costs by about 30 percent. A 10-megawatt system like this can produce roughly 20 million kilowatt-hours per year—enough to power 10,000 homes! ⚡🏠
With all scheduled tests now complete, China's research team is ready to push into large-scale demonstrations. Could kite power be the future of clean energy? Stay tuned as we track this wind revolution sweeping across Asia and beyond! 🌏✨
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World's largest high-altitude wind energy kite takes flight in China
cgtn.com
