On 25 March Hydro-Québec issued a Request for Information to assess options for the supply and transmission of electricity generated by offshore wind farms located off the coast of Nova Scotia.The RFI aims to gather information from energy industry developers pertinent to technological options, timelines and costs associated with offshore wind projects near the coast of Nova Scotia, and information concerning electricity transmission solutions.
With its large hydroelectric generating fleet and reservoir capacity, Hydro–Québec plays a central role in energy markets across northeastern North America. The company helps balance power grids by complementing variable renewable energy sources, particularly wind power. With 16 interconnections linking it to neighbouring jurisdictions, Hydro–Québec occupies a strategic position at the heart of the region’s major energy corridors.
In this context, ties with neighbouring provinces are part of a broader strategic vision aimed at optimising regional energy systems, as Nova Scotia seeks to develop the significant offshore wind potential along its coast. The market information request launched in March is intended to inform Hydro–Québec’s ongoing reflections in this regard, within a collaborative framework involving neighbouring provinces.
However, no investment nor any procurement decisions have yet been made. The initiative is hoped to help clarify Hydro–Québec’s positioning with respect to the development of offshore wind in Atlantic Canada, and the company is adamant that it in no way affects energy development generally in Québec. It complements the approximately 10 GW planned under Hydro–Québec’s Wind Power Strategy and does not alter the priorities established within Québec.
This market information request is fully aligned with the implementation of the 2035 Action Plan, which calls for a rigorous evaluation of various pathways to meet growing energy needs while supporting decarbonisation and economic prosperity. The request is being conducted in parallel with, but independently of, the call for bids process that was initiated by the Canada–Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator in the autumn of 2025.
