Canada takes next step towards developing windfarms offshore Nova Scotia

The WEAs proposed by the Nova Scotia Department of Energy and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) may be used for future offshore wind development.

The five areas proposed to go forward as wind energy areas are: French Bank, Middle Bank, Sable Island Bank, Sydney Bight; and Western/Emerald Bank, which will be the subject of a public comment period that runs from 14 March to 14 April 2025. Input from the consultation will help shape the final designation of WEAs by the ministers at the Nova Scotia Department of Energy and NRCan.

The federal and provincial governments are working together to identify suitable locations for offshore wind development. Identifying the areas creates more certainty for development and investment by clarifying where future calls for bids may happen; future licences may be issued; and future offshore wind projects may be built.

The location and size of future call for bids areas within WEAs will be determined during the subsequent steps in the licensing process.

Nova Scotia has some of the strongest offshore wind resources in the world, and the government of Nova Scotia has set a target to issue licences for up to 5 GW of offshore wind by 2030, with the first call for bids in 2025. 

The federal and provincial governments jointly manage the Canada-Nova Scotia offshore area. In 2023, they appointed an independent regional assessment committee that identified an initial eight areas with strong potential for offshore wind.