The Canadian government has pledged CAD 100 million (around EUR 63 million) to support offshore wind development in Nova Scotia. This funding will assist the province’s Wind West plan to produce electricity for domestic use and export to other provinces.
On October 15, Natural Resources Canada announced that the funding will aid preliminary activities such as offshore wind resource assessments and studies on the necessary transmission infrastructure. This will facilitate power delivery from Nova Scotia to other Canadian markets.
Out of the total funding, CAD 5 million (approximately EUR 3 million) is allocated for deploying floating LiDAR (FLiDAR) buoys. These buoys will measure offshore wind speeds and ocean conditions, essential data for developers preparing bids for the upcoming Call for Bids by the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator (CNSOER), expected in winter 2027.
Additionally, Natural Resources Canada is contributing nearly CAD 3 million (approx. EUR 1.9 million) to Net Zero Atlantic. This will expand electricity market modeling to consider offshore wind power transmission from Nova Scotia to Quebec, Ontario, and beyond, and support marine surveys for transmission cable routing.
“Nova Scotia’s wind and skilled offshore workforce offer Canada a competitive edge in the $1-trillion global offshore wind market,” said Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. “We aim to advance Atlantic Canada’s potential by accelerating offshore wind development to provide clean energy within and beyond the province.”
Wind West, led by Nova Scotia, focuses on developing offshore wind farms and connecting infrastructure. The plan aims to produce zero-emissions electricity for the province and facilitate power exports through new transmission links.
This initiative aligns with the federal Atlantic Energy Strategy, which was referred to the Major Projects Office in September 2025. The strategy aims to enhance regional electricity connections using offshore and onshore wind, nuclear, and hydropower resources.
Canada is preparing for its first offshore wind leasing round in Nova Scotia waters. The CNSOER began the pre-qualification process in October 2025, and by June 2026, seven companies and consortia qualified, including DEME Concessions Wind, Jan De Nul, and Northland Power.
Original Story at offshorewind.biz