Canadian province sets offshore wind target

Today the Province of Nova Scotia announced that it will be pursuing five gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind development by 2030, a target that will drive growth of the industry in Canada.

Canadian province sets offshore wind target

The Province has set a target to offer leases for five gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030 to support its budding green hydrogen industry.

Premier Tim Houston said:

“Setting this target sends a clear signal to the world that Nova Scotia is open for business and becoming an international leader in offshore wind and green hydrogen development. We are taking every opportunity to develop our renewable energy market, not only to fight global climate change, but also to create green jobs here in Nova Scotia.”

Leases for offshore wind development will be granted through a competitive bid process jointly managed by the provincial and federal governments, and the first call for bids will be in 2025. After reaching the five-gigawatt target, calls for bids will be based on market opportunities.

The most promising use for offshore wind energy is generating renewable electricity to produce green hydrogen for use in the province and for export. Green hydrogen is a clean alternative to fossil fuels because it does not create greenhouse gas emissions. Offshore wind is also another option to help Nova Scotia and Canada meet future clean electricity needs.

The Province also announced that it is developing a green hydrogen action plan to be released in 2023. The plan will outline the role green hydrogen can play in the transition to clean energy and the steps the government will take to build this industry, which will help Nova Scotia reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

Premier Houston will attend the WindEnergy Hamburg and H2 Expo and Conference in Germany later this month to promote Nova Scotia as a secure source of clean, renewable energy for the world and to support the investment and development of the emerging green hydrogen market.

Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, said:

"The Government of Canada is pleased to support our partners in Nova Scotia in delivering the deployment of clean offshore wind. This clean energy target represents an ambitious step forward towards delivering a net-zero economy powered in part by wind and hydrogen, while delivering sustainable jobs for Nova Scotians and Canadians."

Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables, said:

"Nova Scotia offers some of the best offshore wind resources in the world, with ample capacity to serve both local and international green hydrogen markets. We will use this geography to our advantage in our pursuit of offshore wind as one of many solutions to help fight climate change and grow our green economy. This is a promising opportunity for Nova Scotia."

Melanie Nadeau, CEO, Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE), said:

"Today’s announcement further strengthens Canada’s role as a leader in renewable energy and provides a great opportunity for the marine industry in Nova Scotia. The government’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050 exemplifies that progress in the renewable energy sector is essential to the future of innovation, climate change and the economy."