The first solution to energy problems would be to stop wasting it like pigs, but that may already be asking too much ...
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The most 'mature' of these technologies is the battery area and within the next year, we are anticipating big breathroughs in lithium.
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I am curious about which breakthrough you are talking about, Techneweenie. Polymer electrolytes for Li metal ? New cathode materials ? I have been in the Li-ion research business for a few years now (worked with Bellcore at some point). So, I am just curious. Consulting firms sometimes call breakthrough what has been known for years. Any details?
There does not seem to be one single replacement solution for oil, but a combination of new energy sources and less energy consuming devices.
Solar could not do it alone, Tabs is correct. But it could, for instance, provide the energy for AC in a house during summer.
The gas consumption of cars in the US could be reduced by half.
The energy use for lightning even more than half for with solid state white diodes that do not emit in the IR, and therefore do not have joule energy losses.
Cold fusion is the holy Graal, and could be achieved by electrochemical route. Some results are very promising and intriguing.
All I know, is that I will always have a job in the chemical energy storage and conversion research...Not that this will prevent beheadings from occuring, but at least I feel like my life has a useful purpose.
Aurel