> solar only runs during the day and when it is not cloudy

Solar PVC output directly and immediately correlates to sun landing on the panels.

Solar thermal runs well into the evening, and its output is not impacted by the occasional cloud.

That’s only because of the thermal storage. The output of the solar collectors is massively impacted by clouds, also just by haze and aerosols, much more than PV, which is happy with diffuse and direct sunlight.

Then there’s the cost, which has not been good for CSP’s market share.