Since Denmark ushered in modern wind power through the first turbine tower in 1957, the technology has spawned variants such as offshore wind farms, hybrid systems and vertical-axis turbines.

The latest version of wind power technology is the S2000, a giant helium airship that lifts multiple wind turbines up to 2,000 meters high, where consistently strong winds produce stable electricity that is then transmitted down to the grid on the ground using tether cables, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.

A test of a 60-meter-long, 40-meter-wide, and 40-meter-high prototype over Yibin, Sichuan province, China generated 385 kilowatt-hours of electricity — enough to charge around six electric vehicles or power an average urban household for a month, the operator, Beijing-based start-up Sawes Energy Technology (SET), said, according to SCMP.

Other prototypes were successfully tested, and SET will produce a limited number of S2000 units for the power needs of coastal cities, according to SCMP.

If Chinese technologists can produce flying wind turbines to generate electricity, a Japanese company’s durable product is getting many orders.

Dishware maker Ishikawa Jushi Kogyo saw its sales double after launching its Aras brand of plates in 2021.

Made of Tritan, a type of synthetic resin developed by a United States manufacturer, and glass fiber for increased strength and luster, Aras plates are light and feature a refined yet tacky texture, the Asahi Shimbun (AS) said.

The company put out a TV commercial to promote Aras. The ad shows plates flying and falling to the floor in droves, according to AS. The plates bounced and remained intact, instead of breaking into hundreds of pieces, and the Aras slogan appears: “They won’t break even after they are dropped 1,000 times.”

The alternative to breakable ceramic and plastic plates drew strong appeal from consumers and restaurants. Aras plates are now sold at 127 shops in Japan, including major department stores in Tokyo and Osaka, AS reports.

In line with IJK’s plan to export Aras plates, the company has opened a marketing and sales office in Tokyo, while a new factory is under construction.