Canada Renewable Energy

Canada has a strong and growing renewable energy sector, which has benefitted from significant incentives over the past 18 years targeting a 40% reduction of emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050. The current wind power total installed capacity is 15 GW, which is only onshore facilities due to a moratorium on offshore wind power generation introduced in 2010. In 2022, the moratorium was lifted, and now many provincial regulators are evaluating and re-starting offshore projects. 32 offshore wind farm projects including offshore locations in the Great Lakes in Ontario and in British Columbia, are now being reviewed for development. 

Nova Scotia was among the first provinces to announce offshore wind leasing in Canada. Leases for offshore wind development will be granted through a competitive bid process jointly managed by the provincial and federal governments. The first call for bids will be in 2025, targeting to offer leases for 5 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030. Ongoing announcements and information for interested parties are available from Nova Scotia’s Department of Natural Resources and Renewables.

New Brunswick Power recently announced a Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) to submit wind, solar, tidal power, and storage solutions proposals. The project plans up 220 MW of electricity from renewable resources and up to 50 MW of energy storage. The generation, if cost-effective, will be added to the NB Power system, with the expectation to be in operation by July 2027. Ongoing information is available from NB Power and by registering (free of charge) with the New Brunswick Opportunities Network (NBON) https://nbon-rpanb.gnb.ca, the procurement website of the Government of New Brunswick. 

Current business opportunities range from wind power generation equipment to electricity transportation and/or energy storage equipment, systems, and components. Interested parties should connect with developers and general contractors of such projects and consider the option of becoming Qualified Vendor for independent system operators of the provinces in which they are interested. Visit the federal government procurement website Buyandsell.gc.ca and the system operators’ websites to learn more about opportunities.

U.S. Commercial Service Canada is following closely the status and progress of the market and projects and are assisting U.S. companies with advocacy support, business to business contact information and facilitation for the Canadian supply chain.

For further information contact: Commercial Specialist Stefan Popescu