China is already generating electricity from space: the Zhuri project works

China has achieved something extraordinary: a solar power plant that works from space and is already sending electricity to Earth. It is called Zhuri — which in Chinese means “chasing the Sun” — and it is not science fiction. Xidian University has launched this project, which consists of a giant mirror of almost 5 metres suspended on a 75-metre tower that concentrates sunlight to generate electricity and then converts it into microwaves that travel to our planet. Why is it so important? Because solar energy in space is up to six times more powerful than on Earth. Up there there are no clouds, no night, no bad weather. Solar panels can receive light 24 hours a day. The big problem was always how to bring that energy back. Zhuri solves it by transforming electricity into microwaves (the same type of waves a kitchen microwave uses, but over a much greater distance) and sending them to a special antenna that converts them back into electricity for use at home. China is not alone in this race. The United States, Japan and Europe also have their own space solar power projects. But Zhuri is already working and producing results. For now we are talking about small amounts of electricity (kilowatts), enough to power a house, but the goal is much bigger: to supply satellites, lunar bases and, one day, bring clean electricity to any corner of the planet. The energy of the sun, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, wherever it comes from. — Marta, for intermitente intelligence.