HALIFAX — Growth of Canada’s first offshore wind farms took a major step ahead late Friday when Nova Scotia’s offshore power regulator launched the names of firms certified to bid on seabed licences.
The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Vitality Regulator recognized 5 firms and two teams of firms that received approval after collaborating in a evaluation course of between October 2025 and January of this yr.
The eligible firms had been required to satisfy sure monetary, technical, authorized and social standards to show they’re able to finishing offshore wind initiatives.
The regulator, nonetheless, mentioned the businesses that met eligibility necessities had the choice of conserving their standing confidential, which suggests the names of some individuals could stay a secret at this stage.
In the meantime, the federal-provincial company confirmed a proper name for bids can be issued a while later this yr. And people bids can be topic to ministerial critiques on the federal and provincial ranges.
To this point, the accepted firms are based mostly in Canada, Belgium, China, Eire, Luxembourg, Singapore, Switzerland, South Korea and France.
In January, a spokesman for one of many firms, Q Vitality France, mentioned its estimated timeline for commissioning offshore generators could be someday in 2035.
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston issued an announcement Friday saying the province had taken one other step towards turning into an power chief on the world stage.
“By attracting firms with the expertise and know-how to ship massive power initiatives, we’re setting the stage for a profitable offshore wind trade right here at dwelling,” Houston mentioned.
“This type of development will transfer us from a have to not a have province and create many new alternatives for our younger individuals, small companies and communities.”
In June 2025, Houston mentioned the province’s plan to license sufficient offshore wind farms to supply 5 gigawatts of electrical energy could be elevated eightfold to 40 gigawatts, properly past the two.4 gigawatts Nova Scotia wants.
He known as on Ottawa to assist cowl the prices of the Wind West challenge, saying the surplus electrical energy could possibly be used to produce 27 per cent of Canada’s whole demand. Quebec and Massachusetts have already proven curiosity in shopping for electrical energy from this proposed clear power megaproject.
The provincial authorities says the primary part of Wind West is estimated to price about $60 billion and would produce about 5 gigawatts of energy as early as 2033. About $40 billion could be for turbine infrastructure, with one other $20 billion for brand spanking new transmission traces.
The plan to supply as much as 40 gigawatts of electrical energy says commissioning may occur by 2050.
The ocean areas into consideration for the primary part embrace Sydney Bight, northeast of Cape Breton within the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Three extra parcels could be discovered off the jap shore of mainland Nova Scotia.
The next certified firms and enterprise alliances consented to to having their names launched:
— DEME Concessions Wind N.V., based mostly in Belgium.
— Ming Yang Sensible Vitality Group Ltd., based mostly in China.
— Northland Energy Inc., based mostly in Toronto.
— Merely Blue Vitality (OSW) Ltd., based mostly in Eire.
— Jan De Nul N.V., based mostly in Luxembourg.
— A bunch that features Halifax-based DP Vitality Canada Ltd., Enterprize Vitality Atlantic Pte. Ltd. in Singapore, Nova East Wind Inc. in Halifax, and SBM Renewables Holding SA, based mostly in Switzerland.
— A bunch that features Hanwha Ocean Co., Ltd., based mostly in South Korea, and Q ENERGY France SAS.
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