The best way to gather solar energy, of course, is in space. A massive array could gather the energy and beam it down via microwaves to massive collection areas on the planet. It would be very effective - 40-50 years off though, and the collection arrays would have to be isolated.
I have read that proposal when I worked for Spectrolab back in the early 80's. Very interesting stuff but it dosen't address what I think is the core issue with energy generation. Supplying energy to the masses from a central generating source of some kind/any kind vs point of use generation. The only true energy independance will be when you generate what you need from where you are. Anything else will allow somebody else to control haow much and where it will go. I like the point of use idea myself.
You'll fry the songbirds and squirrels. So I was told by some utopists from L-5.
True true-
I also think that when energy becomes so massively available that it can't be controlled we'll see a major class leveling in society. The cost of production will effectively drop by the amount that was being spent on energy, which will cascade through the economy. Who knows - with the effect on the economy, maybe it will be possible to raise a family on a full-time job again.