Nova Scotia’s Major Offshore Energy Move
HALIFAX – The Government of Nova Scotia is making a significant play to establish the province as a leader in the production of an emerging form of green energy.
On September 20, Premier Tim Houston said the province will open a swath of space off its shores for the development of wind energy projects.
The goal, Houston announced, is to offer leases for five gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030.
Five gigawatts may seem like a small number, but it is a significant amount of power. A single gigawatt is enough energy to power about 750,000 homes and it takes more than three million solar panels to generate one gigawatt of power.
The province says it will offer leases for offshore wind development through a competitive bid process that it will manage along with the federal government. The first call for bids will come in 2025.
There’s even potential for the province to offer leases above and beyond its initial five-megawatt commitment. Huston said that, after the province reaches a five-gigawatt target, it will entertain more bids “based on market opportunities.”
While the province’s five-gigawatt target could theoretically power every home in the province, with plenty to spare, there’s a good chance Nova Scotia’s new offshore wind power will be used for other purposes.
Right now, the most promising use for offshore wind energy is generating renewable electricity that’s then used to create so-called “green hydrogen.”
Green hydrogen is an up-and-coming, long-term solution for replacing fossil fuels. It produces no emissions when it’s created by renewable energy and can be converted into ammonia, which is dense and can be shipped long distances.
Recently, there has been a flurry of activity in the green hydrogen sector in Atlantic Canada.
Milestones include the Port of Belledune’s plans to develop a commercial hydrogen production facility and the purchase of the Point Tupper tank farm by EverWind Fuels.
Another important moment came earlier this summer when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz signed a declaration of joint intent between Canada and Germany. As part of that agreement, Canada pledged to help Germany break its reliance on natural gas by producing and shipping hydrogen to Germany.
Meanwhile, the provincial government announced on September 20 that it is developing a green hydrogen action plan that it plans to release next year. 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.
There are several things working in Nova Scotia’s favour that could set it up as a leader in the burgeoning green-hydrogen industry.
The province is one of the best places in the world to generate wind power. It also has a uniquely large continental shelf that is ideal for wind platforms and is well-situated for international shipping.
Trevor Nichols is the associate editor of Huddle, based in Halifax. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].