All those options exist. Storing energy can often extend the payback. The technology I am talking about is solar collectors installed in homes with no storage capacity. The energy produced costs 5, 6 or 7¢ per kilowatt/hour. In Canada, we need a lot of electricity and heat over the long winter season. So there is no need to store the energy.
Technically, these are gadgets that make it possible to lengthen the period of time during which the collectors can be used during the year, but we do not need them. Personally, I avoid these gadgets, because they increase the cost per kilowatt/hour and require more maintenance, which suggests that this is an expensive technology. That is precisely what I am trying to tell you today: the existing technology is not expensive. Technically, solar energy can be stored. This option exists. Is it an advantage? I think so. Is it cost-effective? Not necessarily in all cases.