There is a recently funded (ARPA-E) technology which could push solar into higher demand by lowering cost per kW. It is a “brilliant” idea, so to speak.
There are two primary methods for using sunlight: direct conversion to electricity using photovoltaics, or focusing sunlight onto a fluid that is used to drive a steam turbine - aka concentrated solar power (CSP). Combining the best of both technologies could provide a means to get the more from the solar spectrum, generating both electricity and storable heat (for later use) within the same system. Arizona State U is developing a hybrid solar energy system that modifies the single axis CSP “trough” design, converting the mirrored trough with solar cells that collect direct rays while reflecting the rest of the direct sunlight to a thermal absorber to generate heat. I can find no recent update on the ARPA announcement but it sounds like a great idea. http://arpa-e.energy.gov/?q=slick-sheet-project/solar-concentrating-photovoltaic-mirror
