When I was about 17 or 18, after reading about PV cells, I wondered if lenses mounted above would be a good idea. Some years later, NASA, if I recall correctly, did just that with fresnel lenses. So the tech in the video below I found interesting.

The bricks they use to store heat can last 30 to 50 years with almost no losses.

Fresnel lenses , hot bricks and good old sterling engines. Less space than taken up by solar panels and batteries. 

 

How it works is here... 

https://share.google/Xlgfzkh9PxSkjJyDH

 

 

Edited October 12, 2025Oct 12 by martin-w

That looks rather promising. I hope they succeed.