Developing Nova Scotia's energy resources

Nova Scotia is laying the groundwork to become a global energy leader and is open for business. We have world-class energy resources – significant wind resources both onshore and offshore, the world’s highest tides and 7 trillion cubic feet of onshore natural gas reserves. These and other attributes make resource development a gamechanger for our province.

By safely developing our natural and clean energy resources, we are creating new industries, supporting local businesses, attracting investment and creating good-paying jobs that strengthen our economy.

This is how we unlock Nova Scotia’s full potential.

Nova Scotia’s rich energy resources

Nova Scotia has ample energy potential that can help fill local and global demand for cleaner energy resources, including:

• wind – Nova Scotia has some of the strongest winds in the world; onshore wind and offshore wind can provide abundant clean power for Nova Scotia homes, businesses and export markets (and create local jobs and community benefits at the same time)
• solar energy – solar energy is becoming an increasingly important part of our energy mix; with more than 10,000 homes with solar panels already, we’re working to expand community and commercial solar programs, making it easier for businesses and communities to generate their own power, lower their costs, and contribute to a cleaner electricity grid
• marine renewable energy – with 13,000 kilometers of coastline and beneficial geology, Nova Scotia’s marine environments host significant opportunities for energy development, including offshore wind and tidal energy
• hydro power – Nova Scotia uses about 400 megawatts of locally generated hydroelectricity and imports power from Muskrat Falls in Newfoundland and Labrador through the Maritime Link
• geothermal – geothermal technologies can tap into the natural heat of the Earth to provide clean, consistent and reliable heating and cooling options for homes and businesses, lowering costs and reducing emissions
• bioenergy – bioenergy can help diversify Nova Scotia’s clean energy portfolio offering a readily available resource that can also reduce waste and emissions, and generate economic benefits in the agriculture, marine and forestry sectors

Building a province powered by cleaner energy

Nova Scotia is leading the way in harnessing the power of cheaper, local energy and clean energy technologies to replace oil, gasoline, and coal in homes and businesses, transportation and across the electricity system. These efforts are stabilizing energy bills and improving our health and quality of life.

The Clean Power Plan is building energy security and economic growth. Its actions are reducing reliance on imported fuels, stabilizing energy costs and positioning Nova Scotia as a leader in clean technology. By modernizing our electricity grid and expanding clean energy, the province is building a self-reliant electricity system that will power a greener economy.

Battery storage, fast-acting backup generation, and smarter grid management tools help us better integrate clean energy and improve the efficiency and resilience of our electricity system.

Nova Scotia is a leader in energy efficiency programming, which helps Nova Scotians use less energy, lower their heating costs, reduce emissions and improve the comfort of their homes and businesses. Programs and financial incentives are available to support home insulation and heat pump installations and for businesses to adopt cleaner heating solutions.

The Low Carbon Communities program supports low-carbon solutions in buildings, electricity, and transportation that create long-lasting greenhouse gas reductions and local energy independence.

Nova Scotia is encouraging and investing in clean transportation solutions to reduce reliance on gasoline and diesel. We are supporting the purchase of electric buses and ferries and other infrastructure to provide cleaner, more efficient public transit, as well as programs, policies, and infrastructure to make it easier for people to walk, cycle and use zero-emission vehicles.

New energy opportunities

Nova Scotia is looking at ways to put our natural resources to work to create new jobs and economic benefits and support the clean energy transition:

Green hydrogen – Nova Scotia is on the verge of becoming a global hydrogen powerhouse. With strong winds and access to fresh water, we have the ideal conditions to produce green hydrogen—a carbon-free fuel that can help industrial operators and heavy transportation sectors reduce their fossil fuel use. It is a significant economic opportunity through exports as well as some domestic use.

Natural gas – Onshore natural gas and offshore oil and natural gas pose new energy development opportunities. Natural gas is a flexible backup that helps keep the power on when solar and wind aren’t producing enough energy. As we move toward net-zero by 2050, responsibly developed natural gas projects will support energy security and reliability, job creation, economic growth and help bring more clean energy on the grid.

Underground energy storage – Subsurface energy storage uses geologic formations to store transitional energy sources for later use or export. It is expected to help with the move to a net-zero emissions future and balance changes in energy supply and demand with a local source.

Nova Scotia is exploring carbon capture and storage technologies to reduce industrial emissions and support sustainable economic development. Capturing carbon dioxide from major industries and storing it underground safely and permanently is a responsible option to reduce emissions.

The Province of Ontario is leading the way on small modular reactor development in Canada. While this technology will not be established in Nova Scotia soon, Premier Tim Houston entered into a memorandum of understanding (PDF) with the Government of Ontario to work together to explore small modular reactor technology as a clean energy option to help meet our province’s future energy needs, build grid resilience and protect ratepayers.

Building the energy sector workforce

A growing energy sector demands a robust and experienced workforce across a range of skilled trades, technical expertise and professional and support roles. There are many programs available:

• Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) offers courses in many related areas
• Clean Economy Grants Program – helps master's students research areas of importance to Nova Scotia's energy sector
• Clean Economy Scholarship Program – helps students entering college or university with a scholarship to gain the skills for work in the renewable energy sector
• Energy Training Program – helps businesses in the energy sector hire post-secondary students and recent graduates.

Contact

Department of Energy