Ironraven, check out some of the solar energy sites. If you are going to use batteries then you will be using an inverter to make house power. And there are inverters with a generator starting function,

http://www.xantrex.com/web/id/45/p/131/pt/18/product.asp

Scroll down to features.

Of course you need a genny with auto start.

As far as needing more power, load sensing, i don't think that the generator would start and spin up fast enough to drive a instant heavy electrical load. For instance if the inverter is large enough to run the well water pump but not the washing machine and the water pump. When you turn on the washing machine and then the water pump comes on to fill the washer the inverter will overload or blow a fuse in the seconds before the generator comes up to speed. Hope that made sense.