nano scale antennas shaped like bow-ties are being made that can , with the aid of a tiny ultra fast diode, convert the AC power of light its self into weak DC power. Make millions of these bow-tie antennas on a plate. Make millions of plates, and get power from not just UV, but visible, and IR light too. This will make solar cells obsolete in many ways. This is a real thing, they are called rect-tennas meaning rectifier (diode) and antenna.
It is just hard to mass produce.
So in that way we do make radiation into energy.
Also we have plates of metals in water, which when sun light shines on it, can split water into O2 and H2 gas. release O2 to air. bottle H2. Burn H2 at home, school, work, or car.
H2 stores into containers. It can be detected if leaks happen. It burns to make pure water and releases almost all the energy put into it from the initial reaction.
We have issues storing electricity now. We can store liquids and gasses. Batteries have both parts of the equation in them, a "fuel" and the "oxidizer" meaning they can burn by themselves, and not be put out.
Hydrogen gas does burn, but needs Oxygen. It can be smothered, flooded, etc.
Anyway fusion is "cool" but we also have good ideas for energy elsewhere. Ones that are not making radioactive materials, and can store energy in literal tanks.
Imagine refueling your car at a hydrogen station like you do to get LPG. (Which some countries do now). Refuel car in 5 min. How long to charge that Tesla for a full range?
Oh and how often does that battery bank need replacing? Every 5 years? So a fully welded tank for H2 gas, how often does that need replacing? Probably only needs yearly inspection to be very strict. But not replacement. So surround your H2 tank with a plastic tank and put H2 sensor in it. If sensor goes off tank is leaky. Anyway, we could make this a reality. H2 gas also can power fuel cell make DC power direct and also make heat and water. International Space Station anyone? Why were H2 O2 fuel cells forgotten? Cost? yet we will do fusion?
IDK... no one wants hydrogen economy. People are stuck in 1930's and think Hindenburg disaster is all hydrogen is good for.
Never mind the space launches that use TONS of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen and they work.
So fusion is good. Let's branch out however.