Canada has officially designated its first four offshore wind energy areas along the coast of Nova Scotia, advancing its strategy to license up to 5 GW of capacity by the end of this decade.
The federal and provincial governments selected French Bank, Middle Bank, Sable Island Bank, and Sydney Bight for upcoming offshore wind energy development. This announcement marks a pivotal step in launching a competitive bidding process scheduled for later this year, aligning with broader goals to establish Nova Scotia as a leading clean energy exporter.
Tim Hodgson, Canada’s Natural Resources Minister, stated: “The identification of wind energy areas off the coast of Nova Scotia is a significant step forward towards unlocking our renewable energy potential.”
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston added: “With some of the top wind speeds in the world, Nova Scotia has the potential to become a clean energy superpower.”
Trevor Boudreau, Nova Scotia’s Energy Minister, noted that the designation delivers “a clear signal” to investors in industry. “It’s time to go, it’s time to get ready for the first call for bids, and it’s time to invest in Nova Scotia.”
These four sites were selected through a detailed regional assessment, which had initially identified eight locations with strong potential. Following public engagement, the list was refined to five. Of these, four have now been formally designated. Sydney Bight and French Bank were made smaller in response to feedback from stakeholders.
The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator is currently preparing its recommendations for the upcoming bid process for offshore wind energy and establishing licensing terms for seabed use. Christine Bonnell-Eisnor, the Regulator’s CEO, remarked that this designation represents “an important step in the offshore wind land tenure process.”
Under the Canada-Nova Scotia Accord Acts, the federal and provincial governments share responsibility for managing offshore areas. As part of this broader effort, the province has now published the final module of its Offshore Wind Roadmap. This latest section outlines consultation protocols and engagement responsibilities for the sector.