It should be noted that almost every previous article referencing "new leaf" ... "more efficient than natural photosynthesis", explains a process of slitting water to it's two atomic components.
The leaf in this article implies a completely different product. Alcohol... It's quite a different track, and promising if true.
A promising side effect would be the removal of CO2 from the atmosphere. Although burning the fuel probably returns it back, so it's only helpful inasmuch as it replaces other sources of fuel.
Alcohol on the ground causes less problems than excessive CO2 in the air, and still better to recycle the problematic CO2 in the air than increase its volume by burning oil from the ground.
The leaf in this article implies a completely different product. Alcohol... It's quite a different track, and promising if true.