In the search of alternative energy sources and cheap solar power

As consumers, people are getting more aware of the benefits of alternative energy sources, like solar power. One of the main accomplishments for the near future would be to have cheap solar power. Cheap solar power is not a mirage, there are plenty of products that take advantage of the sun. That technology becoming cheap is just a matter of industrial economics. With increasing demand, soon solar power will become cheaper and cheaper.
The Sun is our most powerful source of energy and it has been used for centuries for different applications (not only for power generation). Too bad we still don't have the technology to harness all that power and specially to store it, for later use. My intention is to explore and discover the old and new technology that we can use everyday as an alternative to the traditional electricity that is becoming more expensive to our pockets and to the environment. What I want is cheap solar power!
However, as I said, the Sun is not only used to extract power. One interesting project is SODIS, used in developing countries to disinfect water. Water is placed in regular plastic bottles and with the help of UV-A radiation and temperature, some pathogens are destroyed, making water safer to dirnk. This is completely inexpensive and can help stopping diseases in those countries. I presume the only reason it's not so widely used is lack of information.