Solar and wind energy are bound to be the best, most effective forms of alternative energy.  Why?  Because they are the closest (most direct) in terms of “conversion” to the ultimate source of all energy on our planet, the Sun.  For that reason, they are simplest and most efficient to convert into usable electricity.
Not only that, but they can also be generated closest to the end-user, i.e. electricity generation can be distributed instead of being centralised.
Lastly, the can benefit households and communities by allowing unused energy to be stored in the form of battery power, or fed back into the central power grid.
I believe this is where we should be concentrating the bulk of our efforts, mental horsepower and budgets, rather than to the more exotic technologies, e.g. wave and geothermal energy.