Comment by jhallenworld

Another way to look at this: how much solar do you need to synthesize 1 MWh of methanol ("e-methanol") from water, which is only ~54 gallons (200 liters)? Actually you need 135 gallons since the generator is likely 40% efficient (or less..). This is not much fuel, I used to have two 275 gallon oil tanks in my basement.

I think e-methanol synthesis is ~%50% efficient, so double the solar. Doesn't sound so bad.

Now if you could synthesize methane you could push it into the gas grid and run the meters backwards, thereby avoiding the need for storage... actually methane synthesis is even more efficient, >70%.