> a homemade solar system powered his lights, fridge and, in later years, his internet connection.
I would have liked more information on this. But clearly I can't expect many technical details from an article intended for the general public.
What's there to know? Solar systems are all the same. Some panels, some batteries, a charge controller and an inverter.
Reminds me vaguely of the end of brave new world in that living there would be to some a prison and to others paradise, and I'm not quite sure which bucket I'm in (or how to find out)