Premier Tim Houston. Photo: screengrab of Maritime Premiers

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

Leases for offshore wind development will be granted through a bid process 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.

Premier Tim Houston says 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.

One promising use for offshore wind energy is the generation of renewable electricity to produce green hydrogen for use in the province and for export. Green hydrogen is a clean alternative to fossil fuels, and it doesn’t create greenhouse gas emissions.

“Nova Scotia offers some of the best offshore wind resources in the world, we will use this geography to our advantage in our pursuit of offshore wind as one of many solutions to help fight climate change to grow our green economy,” explains Tony Rushton Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables.

The province is also developing a green hydrogen plan set for release in 2023. This will outline the role green hydrogen will play in the transition to clean energy and the steps the government will take to build this industry that will help Nova Scotia to reach its goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

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

“The province is taking every opportunity to develop the renewable energy market not only to fight global climate change but to create jobs for Nova Scotians.” Houston said.  

The provinces offshore wind industry will be developed in consultation with fishers, First Nations, and other stakeholders and take into account the federal provincial regional assessment for offshore wind that is currently underway.