It would be an interesting cost study to compare the small home sized generator and solar PV. I think that by the time you buy the generator, keep it fed with fuel and do the normal maintenance the solar might start looking attractive. I know the people around here who lived off of generators after a hurricane were quickly woken up as to how much it costs to "feed the monster".
If I was going that way it would certainly be a commercial diesel gen set and I would still expect it to be expensive. Utility power may be the best deal in the world.

Greg Fretwell