The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator (CNSOER) has published a list of companies cleared to participate in the country’s first offshore wind licensing round off Nova Scotia, revealing an international line-up of developers and groups eyeing seabed rights.
Wind turbines. Author: Jeremy Oakley License: CC BY 2.0
Interested parties that have consented to public disclosure include DEME Concessions Wind, Jan De Nul, Ming Yang Smart Energy Group, Northland Power and Simply Blue Energy, alongside a group comprising DP Energy Canada, Enterprize Energy Atlantic, Nova East Wind and SBM Renewables Holding SA, plus a partnership of Hanwha Ocean and Q ENERGY France.
The prequalification window, which ran for 90 days from October 16, 2025 to January 13, 2026, assessed applicants against financial, technical and legal and social criteria. Only companies that cleared the process will be eligible to bid on parcels in the upcoming Call for Bids.
The published list is partial. Companies were given the option to keep their status confidential and the CNSOER said it will not disclose the total number of prequalified entities or the names of those that did not qualify.
The regulator is preparing an offshore renewable energy recommendation for a future Call for Bids, subject to federal and provincial ministerial review and approval. No date for the round has been announced.
