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 2 weeks ago by kalkulat@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
181 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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[–] OrteilGenou@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

I assume they have designed these in a way that doesn't adversely impact migratory birds

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 8 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Birds don't fly at 3,000 feet.

[–] turmacar@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Some very few do, not sure if they're in China though.

"Windfarms hurt birds" is 90+% fossil fuel propaganda though. Yes birds run into windmills, they also run into skyscrapers and houses and antennas and planes.

We should of course look for ways to mitigate that. We should not just pretend smokestacks do no harm and not develop renewable energy projects.

[–] bss03@infosec.pub 1 points 2 weeks ago

The tether / power transmission line does pass through potential flight paths, tho.

Still, I imagine the impact to be even less than ground-based turbines.

[–] OrteilGenou@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Just vultures, cranes, geese, ducks, kites, swans, condors...

[–] MadPsyentist@lemmy.nz 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

They'll hire Anna Paquin, she'll sort something out.

[–] krooklochurm@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 weeks ago

And her cousin, Anna penguin, the avian consultant.