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Atlantic Canada’s Offshore Wind Potential Is Massive, but Less than Projected: Report
Stantec's study finds physical and economic constraints limit Atlantic Canada's offshore wind to 16.5 GW by 2050 in a high-export scenario, with domestic capacity at 2.5 GW.
- On Feb. 17, 2026, Stantec, the engineering firm, concluded Atlantic Canada can generate up to 16.5 Gigawatts by 2050 but strong winds don’t mean unlimited offshore buildout.
- Stantec modelled constraints such as ocean-floor conditions, marine protected areas, ice, shipping lanes and fishing zones, and warned Atlantic region transmission systems are underdeveloped and costly, with floating turbines estimated at US$6,360–US$11,295 each, about 47 per cent more than fixed-bottom types.
- Smaller provinces are projected to contribute, with Nova Scotia potentially generating about nine Gigawatts by 2050, and New Brunswick and P.E.I. adding two and one Gigawatt respectively, while about 2.5 Gigawatts could serve local demand.
- The report raises fiscal questions after Stantec’s estimate of 16.5 Gigawatts sharply contrasts Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston’s Wind West project projections of up to 66 Gigawatts, risking $60 billion first‑phase transmission spending.
- The province is preparing for procurement this year as provincial governments pre-qualify companies and Stantec's third study phase will explore transmission infrastructure while technology costs are expected to fall.
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11 Articles
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Despite good wind speed and potential for development, it is not enough to cover the wind horizon.
·Montreal, Canada
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Atlantic Canada's offshore wind potential is massive, but less than projected, concludes report
Atlantic Canada is one of the best places in the world to construct offshore wind projects, says a new report, but the amount of energy the region could actually produce isn’t as much as some politicians have been projecting.
·Canada
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Total News Sources11
Leaning Left7Leaning Right0Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution78% Left
Bias Distribution
- 78% of the sources lean Left
78% Left
L 78%
C 22%
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