Marianne Rodgers, Heather Norton, Robbie Sanderson and Scott Harper

Wind Energy Institute of Canada, Tignish, Prince Edward Island, C0B 2B0, Canada,

Offshore Wind Readiness Forum, Net Zero Atlantic, Halifax, NS, September 16, 2026

Abstract

Canada’s offshore wind sector is rapidly emerging as a key opportunity to support decarbonization, energy security, and economic development. This presentation will summarize recent offshore wind research presented through the Canadian Wind Energy Research Network (CWERN), highlighting advances across technical, environmental, social, and grid integration domains.

Research from Natural Resources Canada, Dalhousie University, Net Zero Atlantic, University of British Columbia, Université du Québec à Rimouski, University of Victoria, Geological Survey of Canada, and other collaborators will be featured. Topics include offshore wind resource and site assessment in Atlantic and Pacific Canada, offshore wind farm layouts, marine geology characterization, environmental and ecosystem modelling, and approaches to streamlining impact assessment processes.

The presentation will also examine emerging research on grid integration and system value, including large-scale offshore wind integration into Atlantic Canada’s evolving electricity system, wind farm control strategies, and optimization of seasonal and operational characteristics. Additional studies explore offshore construction risk under low-wind conditions, floating offshore wind concepts, hybrid energy systems, and coupling offshore wind with direct ocean carbon capture technologies.

Beyond technical research, the presentation will highlight social and policy dimensions, including public perceptions of offshore wind development in Nova Scotia and approaches to improving regulatory and assessment frameworks.

Collectively, these projects demonstrate the breadth of Canadian offshore wind research and identify key challenges and opportunities associated with deployment in Canadian waters. The presentation will provide an overview of current national capabilities, emerging priorities, and future research directions needed to support the responsible and effective development of offshore wind energy in Canada.