Canada’s E-Fuels Competitiveness with StormFisher Hydrogen

Feb 10, 2026

Brandon Moffatt, Chief Development Officer at StormFisher Hydrogen, builds green hydrogen and e-fuel projects in North America. He explains why e-methanol is gaining traction for shipping and aviation. He contrasts Canada’s low-carbon grid and tax-credit edge with global competitors. He outlines needed changes to Canadian policy and walks through the Varennes low-carbon methanol project timeline and local job potential.

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INSIGHT

Methanol Wins On Market Fit

Methanol is emerging as the leading e‑fuel for shipping and aviation because it fits existing markets and infrastructure.
Ammonia faces tougher adoption because of toxic handling and limited supply chain readiness.

ADVICE

Follow Stable Policy, Not Just Resources

Pivot project development to jurisdictions with stable, supportive policy when incentives shift.
StormFisher shifted focus from the U.S. to Canada after U.S. policy changed under the new administration.

INSIGHT

European Rules Drive Export Demand

FuelEU policies in Europe create guaranteed compliance demand that supports exporting low‑carbon methanol.
EU rules can make Canadian ports and producers attractive supply partners for transatlantic voyages.

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This week on the podcast, our guest is Brandon Moffatt, Chief Development Officer at StormFisher Hydrogen. StormFisher Hydrogen develops projects that repurpose energy, water, and power, with a focus on green hydrogen and e-fuels across the North American market. The company is currently advancing a low-carbon methanol project in Varennes, Quebec.

The conversation begins with an overview of green hydrogen–derived products, including e-methane, e-methanol, and green ammonia. Brandon explains why e-methanol is emerging as a leading end-use for green-hydrogen-derived fuels, particularly for marine shipping and aviation.

The discussion then turns to Canada’s competitive advantages in producing e-fuels, including access to low-carbon grid electricity in Quebec, Manitoba, and British Columbia, as well as the Canadian Investment Tax Credits (ITCs). With the United States rolling back support for green hydrogen in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) last summer, Brandon notes that Canada currently holds a policy advantage in North America. However, global competition remains strong, particularly from India, China, and the Middle East, where cost structures are advantaged.

For Canada to remain globally competitive in green hydrogen-derived products, Brandon outlines several changes he believes are needed to Canada’s existing ITC framework. These include:

Allowing access to the full green hydrogen ITC when grid power is more than 90% non-emitting
Extending eligibility to downstream equipment, including e-methanol and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production, consistent with how ammonia is treated
Allowing the use of carbon dioxide in fuel production to qualify for the carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) ITC

The episode concludes with a deeper dive into the Varennes project, including the potential for local job creation and the anticipated timing for a final investment decision and first production.

Content referenced in this podcast:

Note, the ARC Energy Funds are an investor in StormFisher Hydrogen. Please review our disclaimer at: https://www.arcenergyinstitute.com/disclaimer/

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LinkedIn: @ARC Energy Research Institute

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