Personally, I've always liked the idea of concentrated solar power combined with a sterling engine and used to generate power directly via a 3-phase generator while also storing excess heat energy (from the cold side) into a medium that might be accessed later either directly or via a secondary power generation method.
Here is a 2018 OSTI (DOE) assessment of this method of power generation which includes pros and cons and other useful information if one wanted to investigate further.
Personally, I've always liked the idea of concentrated solar power combined with a sterling engine and used to generate power directly via a 3-phase generator while also storing excess heat energy (from the cold side) into a medium that might be accessed later either directly or via a secondary power generation method.
Here is a 2018 OSTI (DOE) assessment of this method of power generation which includes pros and cons and other useful information if one wanted to investigate further.