The future of photovoltaic solar energy is CPV or concentrator photovoltaics. SolFocus has a very informative video on youtube called SolFocus Story. They seem to have the most funding and product reliability out there. This is the new solar market. Using mirrors, they concentrate the sun power over 500x! If you are interested check it out. http://www.solfocus.com

The problem with that technology is that it needs direct sunlight to work. It wont work, or the technology fails, if you have cloud cover or indirect light.
Very interesting though. I could be wrong.

There is an Australian company called SunCube working on a similar technology. They claim up to 35% conversion efficiency on their products. Very high indeed.
There website here http://www.greenandgoldenergy.com.au/

Here's the vid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sm34wTgeNIk

They do have the ability to work with indirect sunlight however their efficiency isn't as high.

I watched the sun cube video and did some other research on both SolFocus and Sun Cube. SolFocus seems to already have sold systems in large quantities and have proven their cell efficiencies to be as high and higher then the sun cube's because of a higher acceptance angle. Though the SolFocus product does not work well in clouded or shaded areas, they are only selling to premiere locations around the world.... interesting whats going to happen with it.

Found a video on youtube of SolFocus I don't completely know if the system will work

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Hd5ENIdJzOQ

I think both companies offer a great technology. If i was to choose from the two, ild go with Solfocus because the panels look thinner and are more aesthetically pleasing. However, i think the success of this technology will be determined by the total cost per watt. If we can see prices of $2 per watt or under, i think both companies will flourish.

One downfall is you'll need to have room to put these as they cant just be placed on roofs like normal panels. these things consume space, and probably need more maintenance than normal panels as well. However, as i said b4, they will still be serious players in the solar industry if we can see prices below $2.

Hopefully when the technology gets down around 2 dollars a watt, the government will start giving out more subsidies.

If we get more subsidies now, then maybe through more R&D we can make
the technology better, and find ways to produce solar cheaper. This cant be
achieved without funding. The government needs to realize that the world
has reached peak oil, and now is the time to act.

They blow so much $$$ on weaponry research and development which could
of been poured into renewable energy.

What do you think? We are behind Europe about 5 years in the renewable economy. How long till government subsidies

Well i do know that in Australia for a 1kw system the government gives us a $8000 rebate which makes the system worth ~$3500 .

i'm trying to build one of these in my back yard it's well complicated though. you need active cooling, heliostat, MPPT. were talking about 3 different control systems, mechanical and electrical systems. but it does get to most out of your expensive solar cells. i'm doing this on a shoe string budget. i have lots of old electric bike batteries and 40w worth of cells already. only spent £40 so far.