>could they fuel their plant with their own product and still have net energy gain?
Of course not, that would be the perpetuum mobile :) nor they claim that it can. Thing is, energy in form of liquid fuel is whole lot more expensive than in form of say, intermittent electricity from solar panels (which are now dirt cheap).
Slightly off topic, but here's a sweet tune named "Perpetuum Mobile" by the Penguin Cafe Orchestra (what I heard immediatley in my head while reading your comment).
Of course not, that would be the perpetuum mobile :) nor they claim that it can. Thing is, energy in form of liquid fuel is whole lot more expensive than in form of say, intermittent electricity from solar panels (which are now dirt cheap).