Question Period Note: Marine Renewable Energy Development

Marine Renewable Energy Development

Canada is committed to investing in clean growth, innovation, and emerging forms of renewable energy.

Under the Blue Economy Strategy, we will continue to work with provinces and territories, First Nations, and the marine renewable energy industry, through the marine spatial planning process, to support projects and technology which advance this sector while ensuring the protection of our fisheries resources and aquatic species at risk.

My department will also work with the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the provinces on the recently announced regional assessment of Offshore Wind Development in Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia.

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) plays an important role in the impact assessment and regulatory review processes for projects that have the potential to impact fish and fish habitat in Canada, including marine renewable energy projects.
• Marine renewable energy includes tidal, wave, and offshore wind energy.
• To date, tidal energy projects are the only type of marine renewable energy projects that have been brought forward for authorization. The country's only operating tidal energy station (Annapolis Tidal) is located in Nova Scotia, in Grand Passage.
• Canada also has approximately 30 offshore wind farm projects being considered across the country, most notably in the Great Lakes, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia. However, to date none have been built or formally submitted for approval.
• There is also significant wave energy potential on the east and west coasts of Canada and both coasts have a number of research and development activities underway to support future development. However, while technological developments continue to advance, the sector is often cited as being behind tidal energy in terms of technology convergence and commercialization.
• DFO has issued several Fisheries Act authorizations for in-stream tidal power development projects over the last number of years. The most recent demonstration projects are focused in the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia.
• Marine renewable energy, including tidal power and offshore wind, is still an emerging industry in Canada. Only a few tidal projects have produced grid connected energy and no offshore wind projects have yet to be developed in Canada, but there are initial proposals for projects in various parts of the country.
• As stated in the Blue Economy Strategy discussion paper, future development of ocean-based energy projects must consider the impact that they may have on marine species and habitats, the rights of Indigenous peoples, and the surrounding environment to avoid undermining other economic and environmental objectives and reconciliation.
• DFO’s Marine Spatial Planning program has been working with Natural Resources Canada on supporting the siting considerations in Atlantic Canada and the national regulatory development for future offshore wind projects. The marine spatial planning process will be instrumental in coordinating emerging uses like offshore wind with other ocean activities.
• On April 5, 2022, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change decided to proceed with a regional assessment (RA) of Offshore Wind Development in Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia.
• The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada will work with the Provinces, Indigenous groups, federal authorities, non-government organizations, and the public to plan the RA, including defining its goal, objectives, geographic boundaries, activities, outcomes, and governance structure. The RA will help inform future project-specific federal impact assessments and decisions for offshore wind projects in these areas.
• Most marine renewable projects would require a review under the Fisheries Act and Species at Risk Act for potential impacts to fish and aquatic species at risk.
• For tidal projects, there is an absence of information to both predict and monitor for impacts to fish and aquatic species at risk as most instream tidal projects (tidal turbines which do not impound water) have only operated for a very limited time before failing or being removed.
• DFO Maritimes Region’s Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program has been working with the Province of Nova Scotia and the tidal energy sector on marine renewable energy projects, and continues to support a phased approach to tidal energy development that balances technology demonstration with effects monitoring and research. However, this approach is viewed by some in the industry as a barrier to development.
• DFO continues to support a staged approach to tidal energy development based on a developer’s ability to demonstrate that the project can be operated in a manner that is consistent with DFO’s mandate and objectives. DFO will also work with Natural Resources Canada and the provinces to support future offshore wind development using a similar approach to ensure the departmental mandate is met. Marine spatial planning will also be used to support intergovernmental coordination in the development of this emerging sector.

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