Solar energy can only heat water. Biomass fuels include wood, alcohol, and methane for heating, electricity generation or transportation. Solar energy can't be used at night. In a solar efficient designed house, the building elements themselves store the energy in their thermal mass for night-time comfort and for cloudy days. Electricity from photovoltaics can be stored in batteries.
Wind generators run day and night.
Hydro power, derived from the solar evaporation of the oceans, can be used at any time, with water storage buffering the effect of river flow variations. Solar energy is too expensive. Solar water heaters would be even more attractive if you could get the same loan terms that the utility gets to build a power station. Remember, consumers don't have to pay for the power station when they buy their electric water heater. Current solar devices aren't effective a breakthrough is needed.