Live Oak Synthetic LNG Project, also referred to as the Live Oak e-NG Project, is a planned large-scale facility in Nebraska, United States, designed to produce electric natural gas (e-NG) (synthetic methane) from renewable hydrogen and biogenic carbon dioxide (CO2). The project is being developed by a consortium led by TotalEnergies and Tree Energy Solutions (TES), in partnership with major Japanese energy firms Osaka Gas, Toho Gas and ITOCHU. Under a joint development and operating agreement, TotalEnergies and TES will each hold approximately 33.35% of the venture, while the three Japanese companies collectively hold around 33.3% of ownership. TotalEnergies also recently signed offtake agreements with Glenfarne from the Alaska LNG project on the U.S. Pacific Coast. Commercial operations for Live Oak are targeted for 2030, pending a Final Investment Decision (FID) expected in 2027.

The synthetic LNG project is set to use Nebraska’s abundant biogenic CO2 resources captured from bioethanol plants combined with renewable-powered electrolyzers to generate synthetic methane. The e-NG can then be used directly and/or exported through existing LNG infrastructure. To assert the latter, Live Oak’s e-NG is chemically identical to conventional natural gas, meaning it can be transported, stored, liquefied and distributed using existing pipelines and LNG terminals without modifications to end-user equipment.

Live Oak Synthetic LNG Stakeholders and their Roles

• TotalEnergies SE – Lead developer and co-owner with 33.35% stake. Responsible for coordinating project development, strategy and international partnerships. Will also participate in FEED and subsequent construction oversight.
• Tree Energy Solutions (TES) – Co-developer and co-owner also with 33.35% stake. TES is a specialist in green energy and large-scale decarbonized gas projects. The company offers technical oversight and integration of renewable hydrogen and methanation systems.
• Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. – Japanese partner and offtaker. Osaka is one of the primary buyers of e-NG under future commercial agreements as part of Japan’s target to inject carbon-neutral gas into its grid.
• Toho Gas Co., Ltd. – Another Japanese gas utility partner and offtaker in the Live Oak e-NG project.
• ITOCHU Corporation – Representative coordinating the Japanese partners’ participation. Also holds a collective equity stake with Osaka Gas and Toho Gas.

Live Oak Synthetic LNG Project in Nebraska Gets New Japanese Partners to Join TotalEnergies and TES

Reported December 2, 2025 – TotalEnergies and green energy developer TES partner with three Japanese companies – Osaka Gas, Toho Gas and ITOCHU Corporation – to develop the Live Oak Facility Project in Nebraska. Live Oak is an industrial scale electric natural gas (e-NG/e-methane) facility using renewable hydrogen and captured CO2 as feedstock. The five partners now hold equity as follows: TotalEnergies and TES with 33.35 percent each, and the three Japanese firms combined holding 33.3 percent.

Project Overview

Live Oak project in Nebraska targets approximately 250 MW of electrolysis capacity and plans to generate around 75,000 tons of e-methane per annum (tpa). With Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) now beginning, the project aims for a Final Investment Decision (FID) in 2027, and targets commercial operations by 2030. Commercial operations will also include the export of e-NG to Japan. This is where Osaka Gas and Toho Gas plan to inject it into domestic gas grids. Japanese terminals will also be welcoming natural gas from Glenfarne’s Alaska LNG project after LOIs were signed with Tokyo Gas, among others.

While e-methane is not ideally renewable, is could still count in Nebraska’s growing portfolio of cleaner energy sources. This is if the production runs in a closed carbon cycle as intended, where renewable hydrogen is used and the CO2 is captured. The project could also add to the portfolio made by the likes of Nebraska’s largest photovoltaic installation with integrated battery storage project, Norfolk.

Live Oak e-NG Facility Project Factsheet

Owners: TotalEnergies; TES; Osaka Gas; Toho Gas; ITOCHU Corporation

Equity: TotalEnergies with 33.35%, TES also with 33.35%, and the incoming Japanese consortium with remaining 33.3%.

Target capacity: 250 MW electrolysis and methanation.

Expected output: 75,000 tpa of e-methane

Feedstocks: Renewable hydrogen, and captured CO2  – e.g. from nearby bioethanol plants.

Final Investment Decision: 2027

Expected commercial start: 2030

Offtakers: Osaka Gas and Toho Gas for injection into Japanese gas networks. Will also help meet their ‘1% carbon-neutral gas by 2030’ target.

Project Utility: Provide low-carbon methane compatible with existing LNG, transport and distribution infrastructure.

Project Timeline

March 2024: TotalEnergies co-founds e-NG project with major global energy and gas companies. Aim is to develop synthetic natural gas using renewable hydrogen and CO2. Live Oak is looked at as a priority project.

2024-2025: Preliminary feasibility studies and site assessments for Like Oak in Nebraska. CO2 supply also evaluated, alongside renewable electricity sourcing, and logistics.

December 2025: Joint development and operating agreement signed with three Japanese partners: Osaka Gas, Toho Gas and ITOCHU Corporation. FEED phase to begin.

2026 through 2027: FEED completion and Final Investment Decision (FID) to be reached. This however depends on the reaching of regulatory, supply chain, and financing milestones. Additionally, if CO2 supply becomes constrained or costlier, project viability could be also undermined.

2030: Target start of production of e-NG at Live Oak project. Exports to Japan also expected.