Solar power has definitely caught my attention. So much so that I recently took a solar system design course and we are working towards energy independence on our homestead.
I think in the next decade or two several disruptive technologies in the electric space will converge to allow off-grid living to become affordable to a much larger percentage of the population.
The first is the photovoltaic panels themselves becoming more affordable and more efficient.
Second, the miniaturization and increasing efficiency of many electrical gadgets means that less energy will be required. For example the laptop I use now uses about 50 watts which is less then an incandescent light bulb!
Third, battery improvements. This is the one that has been holding up off-grid solar. The batteries often are more expensive then everything else in a solar system combined.I think we are just starting to see the type of progress we need in this area. I have seen salt water batteries as well as lead ion batteries. Of course there is Tesla as well. Companies are really starting to get innovative in this space and it is just a matter of time before the price comes way down on batteries.