Harnessing the Power of Nature: Why Nova Scotia is the Place to Build the Future of Clean Energy

When you stand on Nova Scotia’s rugged coastline, the power of the ocean is impossible to ignore. The steady rhythm of the tides, the endless expanse of wind across the Atlantic, these natural forces are more than part of our landscape, they’re the foundation of a global clean energy opportunity.

Here in Nova Scotia, Canada, we’re turning those natural advantages into real-world energy and manufacturing potential. With some of the world’s most consistent offshore winds and a growing clean energy ecosystem, our province is becoming a hub for companies driving the next wave of renewable innovation and there’s no better time to be part of it.

A Natural Powerhouse for Clean Energy

Nova Scotia’s coastal geography offers some of the strongest tidal ranges in the world, and we’re among the first jurisdictions to successfully generate electricity from tidal energy.  

Meanwhile, our offshore wind potential is extraordinary. Nova Scotia has been working with Canada as our joint management partner to realize the full economic and environmental potential of the clean energy sector and become home to Canada’s first offshore wind farm. Nova Scotia alone has the capacity to generate more than 60 gigawatts. This is approximately over 25% of Canada’s total current energy consumption.  

With the necessary transmission infrastructure, Nova Scotia’s offshore wind can be a foundational piece to securing greater energy security and sovereignty for Canada. Forging ahead on this vision, the Province has proposed the Wind West nation-building project.

Wind West would be an east-west High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission interconnection that can reduce renewable energy supply costs, enhance reliability, enable the increased use of clean energy. 

Together, these resources position Nova Scotia as a key player in the global energy transition, and momentum is building quickly. The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator (CNSOER) recently launched a Call for Information and Prequalification (NS25-1R) for offshore wind development, marking another major milestone toward establishing a thriving offshore wind industry. This call represents a significant step forward in identifying qualified developers and gathering the data needed to unlock the province’s vast offshore potential.

An Emerging Supply Chain You Can Shape

Building the infrastructure for offshore wind and tidal energy requires a vast and specialized supply chain, from composite blades and subsea cables to turbines, anchors, and sensor systems. Nova Scotia has the industrial capability, R&D strength, and logistical infrastructure advantage to support this growing ecosystem.

Our ports are deep and ice-free year-round. Our workforce is skilled in advanced manufacturing, shipbuilding, and marine engineering. And our research institutions - including Dalhousie University’s Advanced Composites and Intelligent Structures Centre and COVE, a marine technology innovation hub - are helping global companies innovate and commercialize new marine technologies right here on Canada’s East Coast.

A Prime Location for Global Manufacturers

For international firms, Nova Scotia offers something rare: a cost-competitive, strategically located base in a stable, innovation-driven market. With access to both North American and European markets, robust infrastructure, and government programs designed to support investment, the province is ready to welcome manufacturers seeking to serve the rapidly growing offshore energy industry.

From producing turbine components and energy storage systems to developing intelligent monitoring technologies and offshore installation solutions, there’s an enormous opportunity to establish operations that support not just Nova Scotia’s clean energy buildout, but the worlds.

Let’s Build the Future Together

At Invest Nova Scotia, we work directly with international companies to help them expand and succeed here, connecting them to sites, talent, partners, and incentive programs that accelerate growth.

If your company is part of the marine renewables supply chain, I’d love to show you what’s possible in Nova Scotia. Connect with me at the Marine Renewables Canada 2025 Conference & Exhibition here in Halifax, Nov 12 to 14. 

Together, we can harness the strength of our natural resources to power a cleaner, more sustainable future, from Nova Scotia to the world.