IO540, If your friend lives in the North, he could simply dig a hole in his garden 200' or so deep and burn the coal that he excavates in a boiler running a steam generating set (he will have no shortage of water for the boiler). When he has to go to church or something, his children could help with 'winning' the coal.
The whole setup could generate 10's of KW reliably 24/7 and cost a fraction of what he (or the taxpayer) has spent on salesmen's bonuses. In addition, his energy plant will last 100yrs, won't reach an output half life in 2/3 years like the photvoltaics or blow down in a gale like the windmill either.
Come to think of it, I'm sure some Northerners have thought of this already...