IMO, the way yo go would be to start to build a water converter to H2 and save it in a tank during quiet times and use it when you need it. There is a web site dedicated to off the grid somewhere in New Jersey where a guy did it. It was about $250k investment, but he even ran his boat and cars on H2. The most obvious problem was the acre or so of solar panels on his house and yard.( God forbid a hail storm) How long would it take to pay $250k @ 271 a month. If you can get nat gas to your home, that's the answer. Nat gas will be cheap for the near future. Coal would even be cheaper but that means a fire in the house again.
What about coal gasification? Could that be done on a smaller scale than industrialization, say for a couple of homes in coal country?