As Canada and Nova Scotia enter an era of offshore wind development, Cathie is combing its global geoscience expertise with a key in-country partnership, to help shape the country’s marine renewable energy future.
Nova Scotia has committed to issuing up to 5 GW of offshore wind leases by 2030, with an estimated first 2.5 GW available through the recently initiated Offshore Wind Land Tenure Process NS25-1R – launched by the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator (CNSOER) – a major milestone set to mark Canada’s first-ever Call for Bids.
In collaboration with BGC Engineering, an international consulting firm providing professional services in applied earth sciences, Cathie is delivering an interactive Desktop Study (DTS) to support the early planning and development of offshore wind projects across Nova Scotia’s four designated Wind Energy Areas (WEAs):
- Sydney Bight
- French Bank
- Middle Bank
- Sable Island Bank (not considered in NS25-1R)
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Exploring the Seabed: Geological & Engineering Insights from Our Nova Scotia Desktop Study
Using publicly available geophysical, geotechnical, metocean, and environmental datasets, our regional study provides:
- High-level geological assessment and geohazard evaluation
- Screening of anthropogenic constraints
- Identification of protected areas from an environmental standpoint
- Early recommendations for foundation design and installation
- Presentation of key strategy considerations for future site characterization campaigns and data acquisition
Supported by a dynamic, interactive online tool, the study empowers developers and supply chain partners to plan efficiently from the early stages.
By leveraging our findings, stakeholders can identify opportunities and potential challenges, make risk-aware, cost-effective decisions, and accelerate progress toward project delivery – all before CAPEX-heavy offshore site investigations begin.
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Leveraging global experience, anchored in local insight
Cathie brings a wealth of experience from our leadership as geoscience experts on numerous US offshore wind projects along the Eastern Seaboard. Our involvement has spanned the full project lifecycle, from Desktop Study (DTS) stage through to the delivery of Marine Site Investigation Reports (MSIR), a central element of the Construction and Operations Plan (COP) submission to the US Regulator, BOEM.
This depth of technical experience, combined with collaboration with our local partner, ensures our work in Nova Scotia is informed by global best practice and grounded in local understanding.
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Discover More: StoryMap ‘Teaser’ of the Nova Scotia Study
An online StoryMap complements our desktop study by offering a visual, interactive, and engaging way to understand Nova Scotia’s offshore wind potential. This tool brings the study to life with maps, visuals, and concise insights, making it easy to explore Nova Scotia’s designated Wind Energy Areas.
Interested readers can access the teaser by registering interest here. Don’t worry about drafting a full email, simply include ‘register my interest’ in the email subject.
Key advantages of the StoryMap:
- Cohesive storytelling: Combines text, images, and maps into a single, easy-to-follow narrative.
- Accessible and compelling: Helps communicate complex offshore wind data clearly for a broad audience, such as internal or external presentations
- Interactive exploration: Users can pan, zoom, and click on map features to explore data in detail.
- Cloud-based and mobile-friendly: Designed for easy access on any device, anywhere.