Project Spotlight

Nova Scotia Offshore Wind (Wind West)

Wind West is Canada's first offshore wind development programme, led by the Province of Nova Scotia within the broader federal Atlantic Energy Strategy. The programme seeks to develop more than 60 gigawatts of offshore wind potential off Nova Scotia's coast, with a first phase targeting 5 gigawatts of licensed capacity. The first phase is estimated to cost approximately C$60 billion, comprising C$40 billion for wind farm infrastructure and C$20 billion for new transmission lines. First power generation from the initial phase is anticipated as early as 2033.

The Atlantic Energy Strategy was referred to the federal Major Projects Office on 11 September 2025.

Sources: Major Projects Office; Government of Nova Scotia; CBC News, 27 June 2026

Overview 

Nova Scotia's offshore wind speeds are world-class, rivalling those of the North Sea, with mean speeds typically ranging between 9 and 11 metres per second and capacity factors of up to 60 per cent. The designated wind energy areas alone have the capacity to generate up to 60 gigawatts of new electricity supply, equivalent to roughly a quarter of Canada's total electricity demand.

The Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia jointly designated four offshore wind energy areas on 29 July 2025: French Bank, Middle Bank, Sable Island Bank (all south of Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore) and Sydney Bight (northeast of Cape Breton). A fifth proposed area, Western/Emerald Bank, was set aside following public consultation owing to fish conservation zones, national defence activities and operations, and shipping route considerations.

Nova Scotia's current peak electricity demand is approximately 2.4 gigawatts. Wind West is therefore primarily an export-oriented programme, with market interest already demonstrated by Massachusetts, through a memorandum of understanding signed on 4 February 2026, and by Hydro-Québec, through a request for information issued on 25 March 2026.

Sources: Government of Nova Scotia, offshore wind; Natural Resources Canada, 29 July 2025; Invest Nova Scotia; Nova Scotia Government factsheet, August 2026; CBC News, 27 June 2026

Key Facts

Sources: Major Projects Office; CBC News, 27 June 2026; CNSOER

Development

The legislative framework for offshore wind in Nova Scotia was established through two parallel processes. At the federal level, Bill C-49, which amended the Atlantic Accord Acts to include offshore renewable energy and renamed the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board to the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator (CNSOER), received Royal Assent on 3 October 2024. At the provincial level, the Advancing Nova Scotia Opportunities Act (Bill 471) received Royal Assent on 20 September 2024, amending the provincial Accord Act and the Marine Renewable-energy Act to support offshore wind development.

The Regional Assessment of Offshore Wind Development in Nova Scotia, initiated in March 2023, was completed on 23 January 2025, when the committee submitted its final report to federal and provincial ministers. This assessment identified eight potential development areas, of which five Tier 1 areas were put forward for public consultation in March 2025, and four were formally designated on 29 July 2025.

On 18 September 2025, the Government of Canada and Province of Nova Scotia issued joint strategic direction to the CNSOER to implement a prequalification process and Call for Information for Canada's first offshore wind licensing round. The CNSOER opened both processes on 16 October 2025, running for 90 days until 13 January 2026. On 11 September 2025, the Atlantic Energy Strategy, including Wind West, was referred to the Major Projects Office.

Sources: Natural Resources Canada, 3 October 2024; Atlantica Centre for Energy; IAAC Registry, Project 83514; CNSOER; Prime Minister of Canada, 11 September 2025

Development Stage (September 2026) 

Status: Prequalified bidders announced; Call for Bids expected later in 2026

• Four offshore wind energy areas designated (July 2025)
• Regional Assessment completed (January 2025)
• Prequalification and Call for Information processes completed (October 2025 to January 2026)
• Seven companies and consortia publicly identified as prequalified (June 2026); additional prequalified companies may exist but have elected not to be named
• Atlantic Energy Strategy referred to Major Projects Office (September 2025)
• Nova Scotia–Massachusetts memorandum of understanding signed (February 2026)
• Hydro-Québec request for information issued (March 2026)
• Formal Call for Bids expected in the latter half of 2026, subject to federal and provincial ministerial approval

Sources: CNSOER; Major Projects Office; Offshore Wind, 29 June 2026

Timeline

 Sources: IAAC Registry; Natural Resources Canada, 3 October 2024; Government of Nova Scotia, 29 July 2025; Major Projects Office; CNSOER; Government of Nova Scotia, 4 February 2026; Hydro-Québec, 25 March 2026; CBC News, 27 June 2026

Cost Summary

The Province of Nova Scotia estimates the first phase of Wind West at C$60 billion in capital costs. Of this, approximately C$40 billion is attributed to offshore wind farm construction and approximately C$20 billion to new transmission line infrastructure required to connect offshore generation to domestic and export markets.

Without federal support, the province estimates offshore wind energy would cost approximately C$240 per megawatt-hour. With investment tax credits and low-interest financing through the Canada Infrastructure Bank, the cost would fall to approximately C$170 per megawatt-hour. For comparison, recent onshore wind procurement in Nova Scotia came in at C$51.86 and C$63.62 per megawatt-hour.

Nova Scotia has sought assurances of access to the federal Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit, a 15 per cent refundable credit on the capital cost of eligible clean electricity property, and to one per cent financing through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.

Sources: CBC News, September 2025; Global News, 12 September 2025; Major Projects Office

Regulatory Status

The programme operates under a joint federal-provincial regulatory framework. The CNSOER, an independent joint agency of the Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia, is the lifecycle regulator for offshore energy development in the Canada-Nova Scotia offshore area. Its mandate was expanded from petroleum to include offshore renewable energy through Bill C-49 (federal, October 2024) and Bill 471 (provincial, September 2024).

The CNSOER completed the prequalification process in June 2026, identifying seven companies and consortia publicly: DEME Concessions Wind N.V.; a group comprising DP Energy Canada Limited, Enterprize Energy Atlantic Pte. Ltd., Nova East Wind Inc. and SBM Renewables Holding SA; a group comprising Hanwha Ocean Co. Ltd. and Q ENERGY France SAS; Jan De Nul nv; Ming Yang Smart Energy Group Limited; Northland Power Inc.; and Simply Blue Energy (OSW) Ltd. Additional companies may have prequalified but elected not to be named.

The formal Call for Bids NS25-1R is expected in the latter half of 2026, subject to approval by the federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and the Nova Scotia Minister of Energy. Successful bidders will receive a Submerged Land Licence to develop, construct and operate offshore wind projects. Entry fees of C$250,000 apply upon submission of a bid, with a further C$750,000 payable on licence issuance.

Sources: CNSOER, governments designated offshore wind energy areas; Offshore Wind, 29 June 2026; Windpower Monthly, 2 July 2026; TechTimes, 30 June 2026

Indigenous Participation

Nova Scotia is Mi'kma'ki, the traditional and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq. The Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaw Chiefs (ANSMC), the highest level of decision-making in the rights implementation process on behalf of the Mi'kmaq of Nova Scotia, is an unincorporated association consisting of the Mi'kmaw Chiefs of the 13 Mi'kmaw communities in Nova Scotia and two ex-officio members (the Kji-Saqmaw and Kji-Keptin of the Mi'kmaq Grand Council). The Kwilmu'kw Maw-klusuaqn Negotiation Office (KMK) carries out research and negotiation under the Assembly's direction.

Offshore wind energy areas fall within waters where the Mi'kmaq exercise treaty-protected fishing rights, including moderate livelihood fisheries. Consultation with the Mi'kmaq is ongoing as the programme advances, with co-existence between fisheries, Mi'kmaw rights and wind development identified as a central question to be resolved as licensing proceeds.

Nova East Wind Inc., a joint venture between DP Energy and SBM Offshore and a member of one of the prequalified consortia, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaw Chiefs on 8 October 2024 regarding its proposed 300 to 400 megawatt floating offshore wind project off Goldboro, Nova Scotia. The memorandum establishes a framework for Indigenous participation, including a Two-Eyed Seeing (Etuaptmumk) approach incorporating Mi'kmaw traditional knowledge.

The CNSOER's prequalification process included social criteria in the assessment of applicants, alongside financial, technical and legal criteria.

Sources: Kwilmu'kw Maw-klusuaqn (KMK), About Us; KMK, ANSMC Members; DP Energy, 8 October 2024; CNSOER, prequalification

Resources

• Government of Nova Scotia, offshore wind (novascotia.ca/offshore-wind)
• Government of Nova Scotia, Wind West (novascotia.ca/wind-west)
• Major Projects Office, Atlantic Energy Strategy
• Natural Resources Canada, designated wind energy areas, 29 July 2025
• Natural Resources Canada, Bill C-49 legislation, 3 October 2024
• Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator (CNSOER), offshore wind Call for Bids
• Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator (CNSOER), designated wind energy areas
• Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, Regional Assessment of Offshore Wind, Nova Scotia
• Prime Minister of Canada, Major Projects Office announcement, 11 September 2025
• Government of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia–Massachusetts memorandum of understanding, 4 February 2026
• Hydro-Québec, request for information, 25 March 2026
• Offshore Wind, prequalified bidders, 29 June 2026
• DP Energy, Nova East Wind memorandum of understanding with Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaw Chiefs, 8 October 2024
• Kwilmu'kw Maw-klusuaqn Negotiation Office
• CBC News, Canada's first offshore wind farms, 27 June 2026