Nova Scotia Offshore Wind Update: CNSOER Announces Prequalified Companies
July 8, 2026
The CNSOER (Canada Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator) announced prequalified companies for its upcoming offshore wind call for bids. Prequalification was open from October 16, 2025, to January 13, 2026. The CNSOER has completed the review of all prequalification applications received, and all applicants were notified about the outcome of their prequalification application.
Only companies who are prequalified by the CNSOER will be eligible to bid on a parcel(s) in the next offshore wind Call for Bids. The CNSOER continues to actively prepare the offshore renewable energy recommendation to make an offshore wind Call for Bids, which is then subject to the federal and provincial Ministerial review and approval process set out in legislation. At this time, the CNSOER can not provide further details on when offshore wind Call for Bids is expected to be held.
Prequalified Companies for Offshore Wind Prequalification NS25-1R
Prequalified companies for offshore wind Prequalification NS25-1R were given the option of having their prequalification status made public by the CNSOER or keeping their status confidential. Companies that applied for offshore wind Prequalification NS25-1R as part of a group required the consent of each member of their group to have their status posted on the CNSOER’s website.
List of Prequalified Companies
The following is a list of the companies that have prequalified to participate in offshore wind Call for Bids NS25-1R and have consented to having their prequalification status made public by the CNSOER. Companies that did not consent to having their prequalification status made public by the CNSOER are not included in this list.
Group composition may change (including new groups forming) after groups have been prequalified, so long as at least one member of the group that prequalified for the Financial Criteria and Technical Criteria is present in each group. For more information, please see our Prequalification Question & Answers document.
This list will be updated as companies consent to having their prequalification status made public by the CNSOER:
- DEME Concessions Wind N.V
- A group comprised of DP Energy Canada Limited, Enterprize Energy Atlantic Pte. Ltd., Nova East Wind Inc., and SBM Renewables Holding SA
- A group comprised of Hanwha Ocean Co, Ltd. and Q ENERGY France SAS
- Jan De Nul nv
- Ming Yang Smart Energy Group Limited
- Northland Power Inc.
- Renewable Energy Systems Holdings Limited
- Simply Blue Energy (OSW) Ltd.
It is important to note that the CNSOER will not share the total number of prequalified companies. They only share those prequalified companies who provided consent to having their status made public. The CNSOER will also not share the name or number of companies that did not prequalify.
The companies announced are based in Belgium, Canada, China, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Singapore, South Korea and Switzerland.
Background on Offshore Wind Prequalification NS25-1R
The purpose of the offshore wind Prequalification process was to review and identify eligible companies that could participate in the next offshore wind Call for Bids.
To prequalify, companies were required to meet certain financial, technical, and legal and social criteria. Interested companies were required to submit information via a downloadable form to demonstrate how they met these prequalification requirements.
As noted in the Strategic Direction letter issued to the CNSOER, there were three key categories through which all developers needed to qualify to proceed to an offshore wind Call for Bids. The CNSOER assessed specific elements to determine if a developer could meet a minimum acceptable threshold that justified their participation in a future offshore wind Call for Bids. Those categories included:
- Financial Capability
- Equity ratio or debt rating
- Annual turnover or net assets, or funds under management
- Technical Expertise
- Direct experience in offshore wind development or other relevant experience (e.g., offshore oil and gas or other renewable energy projects), demonstrate access to external offshore wind expertise, and knowledge of the local supply chain.
- Direct experience in offshore wind development or other relevant experience (e.g., offshore oil and gas or other renewable energy projects), demonstrate access to external offshore wind expertise, and knowledge of the local supply chain.
- Legal and Social Status
- History of regulatory compliance, maintaining Health, Safety and Environment and Human Rights standards, and ethical conduct
Evaluation of the offshore wind Prequalification NS25-1R applications was completed by a committee comprised of CNSOER staff and supported by external consultants, including a fairness advisor. The outcome of this assessment was reviewed and approved by the Members of the Regulator.
Answers to questions posed to the CNSOER about offshore wind Prequalification NS25-1R were posted in the below PDF document for all interested companies to review. Applicants were encouraged to review this document before making their submission.
Offshore Wind Prequalification NS25-R Questions and Answers – Updated January 9, 2026
Official Statement from Nova Scotia Premier Office:
Nova Scotia’s world-class offshore wind resource has captured the attention of international wind energy companies. Now pre-qualified by the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator, they can work on their proposals for Nova Scotia’s first offshore wind call for bids, which will open later this year.
By attracting companies with the experience and know-how to deliver large energy projects, we are setting the stage for a successful offshore wind industry here at home.
Our Wind West plan represents a generational opportunity – one that will create good-paying local jobs, attract billions of dollars in new investment, generate new export revenues and drive significant economic growth across the region for decades.
This kind of growth will move us from a have not to a have province and create many new opportunities for our young people, small businesses and communities.
Today’s news reinforces our confidence that Nova Scotia is ready to lead, and we look forward to the next steps as we harness the power of our winds, deliver clean energy to markets in need and realize our ambition to becoming an energy leader on the world stage.
