The federal government has committed $100 million to advance offshore wind development in Nova Scotia, supporting the research and data collection needed to attract private investment and move the province’s Wind West initiative toward development.
Announced by Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson, the funding will help lay the groundwork for offshore wind farms and the transmission infrastructure needed to connect them to customers. Wind West aims to supply Nova Scotia with clean electricity while exporting additional power to other provinces.
Of the commitment, $5 million will support floating light detection and ranging, or FLiDAR, buoys that measure offshore wind speeds and ocean conditions. The information will help developers prepare for a call for bids expected from the Canada–Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator in winter 2027.
Natural Resources Canada is also providing nearly $3 million to Net Zero Atlantic for modelling electricity transmission to Quebec, Ontario and other markets, alongside marine surveys to help identify routes for subsea cables.
Nova Scotia has set a goal of licensing up to five gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030. The province says the first phase of development could attract $60 billion in private investment, with opportunities spanning marine services, ports, manufacturing, engineering and skilled trades.
The funding focuses on the work required before construction can proceed. Better wind and ocean data will support project design, financial planning and regulatory decisions, helping developers and investors assess the viability of future projects.
For Nova Scotia, that preparatory work is a key step toward building an offshore wind industry capable of serving electricity demand well beyond its borders.