If the power used to generate the hydrolysis is from a renewable source like solar or wind….who cares if it takes more energy to produce than is produced?
I think that is the point of the new process.  Use a renewable source of power to convert CO2 and water into a motor fuel that can be stored, shipped and utilized by vehicles already on the road.
Ant

      From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
 To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
 Sent: Thursday, July 9, 2015 7:44 PM
 Subject: Re: Solar for VANGONS?
   
John, John, John.  Not so fast.  The process requires hydrolysis of water to provide the necessary hydrogen, a high energy demand reaction.  We are talking about serious energy inputs above the energy storage in the fuel.  While it may be a way to produce fuel, the energy it consumes could be more readily used directly for other applications much more profitably, methinks.  mcneely

---- John Rodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> Recently, the Germans have developed a solar system to convert water and
> CO2 to 80 liters of diesel fuel per day. If you have a diesel van this
> could be a real boon. Thats approximately 20 gallons of diesel fuel per
> day! Given the additional mileage you get with a diesel the could be a
> wallet saver. You could run around a week on one days solar production,
> building a daily reserve of 20 gallons a day. By weeks end there would be
> enough for a serious trip and other things. Anyone looked into this?
>
> John

--
David McNeely