> unreasonably expensive since you'll have to cater for those rainy days I wonder if it would make sense to get a generator[1] to supplement solar on rare occa

> unreasonably expensive since you'll have to cater for those rainy days I wonder if it would make sense to get a generator[1] to supplement solar on rare occasion. If you want to build solar, but the cost of achieving reliability is the one thing stopping you, then maybe a generator could remove that obstacle. Yes, it emits carbon, and the fuel costs money. But if you only use it a few days each year, that might not be very significant. However, it makes the system design more complicated, and generators require maintenance. --- [1] I'd use propane since it can be stored 10+ years, whereas gasoline and diesel last 6-12 months. Also propane can be used for emergency heat.