World's largest CO2 methanation test facility goes online in Japan

Two Japanese companies, Inpex Corporation and Osaka Gas Co., Ltd., have launched one of the world’s largest CO2 methanation test facilities, capable of processing 400 normal cubic meters of CO2 per hour. Located in Niigata Prefecture, the plant converts captured CO2 into synthetic methane (e-methane) using catalyst-powered hydrogenation reactors. The facility, funded by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Development Organization (NEDO), began demonstration operations in February 2026 and can supply the annual gas needs of approximately 10,000 households. The synthetic methane produced has been successfully injected into a natural gas pipeline, achieving a methane concentration of 96 percent. The project integrates Inpex’s project management and site operations with Osaka Gas’s catalytic methanation technology to optimize production efficiency. The facility has been certified under Japan’s Clean Gas Certificate System, recognizing the environmental value of the e-methane produced and its contribution to CO2 neutrality. This initiative supports Japan’s