Atlantic Canada is preparing for its first offshore wind farms, with Nova Scotia leading the way. As of October 2026, the federal–provincial offshore regulator has qualified seven bidders, a formal call for bids is planned for winter 2027, and Ottawa has committed $100 million to early-stage work. The first turbines are still years away, likely in the 2030s, but the groundwork is now being laid.
Key takeaways
- Nova Scotia's waters have some of the strongest, most consistent winds in the world, plus relatively shallow continental shelf areas.
- The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator (CNSOER) qualified seven bidders in June 2026. The call for bids is planned for winter 2027.
- The province's Wind West plan aims to license 5 GW by 2033, with an estimated $60 billion needed for turbines and transmission.
- In October 2026, the federal government announced $100 million for wind measurement, market modelling and transmission studies.
- Who will buy the power, and at what price, is still being worked out.
Why Atlantic Canada?
Offshore wind is stronger and steadier than wind over land, because there are no hills, trees or buildings to slow it. That means turbines at sea can run at higher capacity factors than many onshore projects (see capacity factor explained).
Nova Scotia has several advantages:
- World-class wind off its southern and eastern coasts.
- Shallower waters on parts of the Scotian Shelf, where fixed-bottom foundations may be possible.
- Ports and offshore experience from decades of oil and gas activity.
- Proximity to large markets in New England, Quebec and Ontario through new transmission.
The province has said its offshore areas could ultimately unlock tens of gigawatts of potential. For comparison, Canada's entire onshore wind fleet was nearly 19 GW at the end of 2025.
How offshore wind is regulated in Canada
Offshore oil and gas off Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador has long been managed jointly by federal and provincial governments under "accord" legislation. Legislation passed in 2024 expanded those regimes to cover offshore renewable energy, and the Nova Scotia regulator became the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator.
The process works roughly like this:
- Designating wind energy areas: Nova Scotia identified four designated offshore wind areas, three south of the eastern mainland and one east of Cape Breton Island.
- Prequalification: companies show they have the financial strength, technical expertise and legal standing to develop projects. This ran from October 2025 to January 2026.
- Call for bids: qualified companies bid on parcels. It's planned for winter 2027.
- Licensing, assessment and permitting: winning bidders still face environmental assessment, consultation and project approvals before construction.
Who has qualified?
In June 2026, the regulator named seven qualified bidders, including European offshore specialists, a Canadian independent power producer and international consortia:
| Qualified bidder |
|---|
| DEME Concessions Wind |
| Jan De Nul |
| Northland Power |
| Ming Yang Smart Energy |
| Simply Blue Energy |
| A consortium led by DP Energy (with Enterprize Energy, Nova East Wind and SBM Renewables) |
| A consortium of Hanwha Ocean and Q ENERGY France |
Qualifying doesn't guarantee a company will bid or build. It simply allows them to compete.
Wind West and the timeline
Nova Scotia's Wind West initiative envisions offshore wind powering the province and exporting electricity to other provinces and potentially the United States. Key milestones so far:
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Federal legislation extends offshore regulators' mandates to renewables |
| September 2025 | Atlantic energy strategy including Wind West referred to the federal Major Projects Office |
| October 2025 | Prequalification opens |
| February 2026 | Nova Scotia and Massachusetts sign an offshore wind agreement |
| June 2026 | Seven bidders qualified |
| October 2026 | Federal government commits $100 million for early-stage work |
| Winter 2027 (planned) | Call for bids launches |
| By 2033 (target) | 5 GW licensed under the initial phase |
The federal funding includes about $5 million for floating LiDAR buoys that measure wind and ocean conditions, roughly $3 million for electricity market modelling and marine cable surveys, and the rest for resource assessment and transmission studies.
What about Newfoundland and Labrador?
Newfoundland and Labrador's offshore regulator also gained a renewables mandate in 2024, but offshore wind there is at an earlier stage. Much of the province's recent wind interest has been onshore, tied to hydrogen. Read wind-to-hydrogen in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia for that story.
The big open questions
- Buyers and prices: Offshore wind is more expensive to build than onshore wind. Long-term purchase agreements with utilities or other provinces are needed, and terms haven't been settled.
- Transmission: Getting gigawatts of power to Quebec, Ontario or New England requires major new lines, which take years to plan and build.
- Fisheries: Atlantic fisheries are vital to coastal communities. Fishers want a strong voice in where turbines and cables go.
- Marine life: Whales, seabirds and fish habitats need careful study. See our look at wind energy and wildlife.
- Mi'kmaw rights and partnership: Projects need meaningful consultation and, increasingly, Indigenous ownership.
- Supply chain: Ports, vessels and turbine components are in high global demand.
Frequently asked questions
When will the first offshore wind farm be built in Canada?
Not for several years. With a call for bids planned for winter 2027 and assessments and construction to follow, first power is most likely in the 2030s.
Will offshore wind lower power bills in Nova Scotia?
It's too early to say. Much of the initial plan is aimed at exports, and prices depend on contracts not yet signed. Offshore wind could help Nova Scotia replace coal power over time. Our Nova Scotia guide covers the current grid.
Are floating wind turbines part of the plan?
Some areas may suit fixed-bottom foundations, while deeper waters would need floating turbines. The mix will depend on site studies and what bidders propose.
The bottom line
Offshore wind could become one of Atlantic Canada's largest economic developments, with steady, powerful winds and growing demand for clean electricity. The steps taken in 2025 and 2026 are real progress, but the key decisions about buyers, transmission and how fisheries and communities are included still lie ahead. Follow developments on our wind page and future of energy overview.
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