Venterra Geoscience Supporting Offshore Wind Energy in Atlantic Canada

Amidst a surge in interest in offshore wind power, Canada hopes to harness its expansive wind resources to fulfil its clean energy and climate ambitions. Through the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC), the Canadian government oversees regional assessments of offshore wind off the coasts of Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Labrador. With Nova Scotia planning to offer seabed leases for up to an equivalent of 5 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030, the role of the specialised Venterra Geoscience team is critical in realising Canada’s renewable energy vision while ensuring responsible and cost-effective deployment.

Venterra Geoscience, with its track record of international consultancy, will expertly collate existing metocean data, identify critical gaps, and recommend optimised data collection methodologies. Their expertise is uniquely suited to address the distinctive challenges of Atlantic Canada’s marine environment, including freezing spray, sea ice, and extreme weather conditions.

This work aims to comprehensively delineate all metocean data necessary to support offshore wind development in Atlantic Canada. The Venterra Geoscience team will evaluate regions with imminent development potential, mainly Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador while maintaining a vision for the long-term data needs across the Atlantic.

The insights obtained through this work will support various initiatives, from precise field measurement campaigns to advanced numerical modelling and targeted R&D, towards closing the information gap in Atlantic Canada’s offshore wind sector.