INPEX and Osaka Gas has commenced demonstration operations of a methanation test facility for a joint technology development project aimed at the practical implementation of a CO2 methanation system to achieve carbon neutrality for city gas. This follows the completion of construction and trial operations of the test facility. The project was initiated by INPEX in 2021 after it was selected for a subsidy program by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). Construction of the test facility—the world's largest-class*¹ with a capacity of 400 Nm³-CO2/h (an annual production capacity equivalent to the gas consumption of approximately 10,000 households)—began in 2023. Synthetic methane (e-methane*²) produced at the facility was successfully injected into a natural gas pipeline on February 20.

The test facility consists of equipment for raw material supply, methanation and utilities. Using CO2 separated and recovered from the Koshijihara Plant within INPEX JAPAN Corporation's (INPEX JAPAN) Nagaoka Field Office (located in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture) as raw material, it is designed to produce e-methane. Through trial operations at the test facility, the technical development goal of producing synthetic methane with a methane concentration of 96% was successfully achieved. Going forward, a portion of the synthetic methane produced will be injected into INPEX JAPAN's natural gas pipeline via the Koshijihara Plant. In addition, the demonstration operations at the test facility will prioritize safety and environmental considerations.

In this project, INPEX oversees the overall management of the project and the operation of the test facility. Concurrently, INPEX will accumulate expertise in CO2-methanation technology and operational experience with the equipment, scale up the reaction system, and study its applicability for deployment in promising regions. Osaka Gas is responsible for the reaction process technology development of the CO2 methanation facility.