Photovoltaic panels are the only commercial solution, but not the best way to make electricity from the sun (10% efficiency).
The best current way would be to couple a solar thermal collector (vacuum tube, parabolic ...) with a stirling or ericson engine driving a generator (up to 40% efficiency).
a thermal sensor can easily recover 80% of solar radiation!
Battery storage of electricity is not yet a panacea (cost, polluting materials, etc.).
Finally, since we are talking about electricity, huge savings in consumption can be made by eliminating waste! This is the approach
NEGAWATT
We can imagine
2 electrical networks, one in
240 V AC and a network in
12V CC to supply all applications running on DC power supplies as well as 240V devices running on DC at low voltage (VCR, TV, PC, etc.).
Significant savings are also possible on washing machines and dishwashers by replacing the electric water heating with a non-electric hot water supply (preferably solar). Electric heating of the house is, of course, to be avoided, prefer the heat pump associated with efficient double-flow ventilation, possibly coupled with a Canadian well. Consider eventually managing the air masses heated by unwanted heat generators in summer but usable for heating the home in winter (heat exchangers on the back of refrigerators and freezers, dryer ...). Avoid using the dryer, or modify its operation (on a thermodynamic generator combining the heating / drying and dehumidification function or on a hot water coil connected to the central heating circuit ...)
