The game-changing potential of offshore wind power in Atlantic Canada, combined with an ambitious vision to develop it as an urgent national project, could turn the region into an energy superpower.
Sable Island, off the coast of Nova Scotia, has the potential to become a major hub for offshore wind energy, taking advantage of the strong North Atlantic winds. Canada aims to eliminate net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with wind power contributing significantly. Offshore wind in Atlantic Canada could be a transformative industry, with enormous capacity and the potential to supply clean electricity to millions of homes. However, Canada lags behind in offshore wind development, with many other countries making significant progress.
Offshore wind could be for Atlantic Canada what oil was to Texas or hydro power to Quebec. We are talking here not of something incremental, but monumental
The Clean Power Roadmap for Atlantic Canada recognizes the potential of onshore and offshore wind power, but there’s an opportunity for a much more ambitious approach. Developing offshore wind energy can help Canada achieve its decarbonization goals and stimulate economic development. This would involve creating a supply chain, generating earnings from electricity sales, and attracting investments from various industries.
How big might this be? Consider that the Sable Island Bank alone could accommodate at least 1,000 offshore turbines, each with 15-megawatt (MW) capacity. That adds up to approximately 70,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) of clean, renewable electricity every year. It is enough to supply 6.5 million average Canadian homes or almost twice the total electricity currently consumed in Atlantic Canada annually. And Sable Island Bank is only one of several potential sites in the region. Offshore wind could be for Atlantic Canada what oil was to Texas or hydro power to Quebec. We are talking here not of something incremental, but monumental.
While Atlantic wind may be available in abundance, its development and integration into the North American grid will require vast amounts of capital from sources that have many urgent and competing opportunities worldwide
Challenges include the need for substantial capital, environmental considerations, and safeguarding existing uses like fisheries and shipping. Canada must act with urgency due to the pressing global climate crisis. The paper outlines a vision for offshore wind energy as a game changer for Atlantic Canada, emphasizing the need for ambition and proactive policies to tap into the region’s wind resources for renewable electricity. It also discusses the potential market, cost competitiveness, supply chain development, and regulatory requirements for offshore wind in Atlantic Canada.
Resource: Public Policy Forum
