The Offshore Wind Predevelopment Program

This call for applications is open until December 18, 2024 (23:59 EST), or until funds are fully allocated.

On this page

• About this funding opportunity
• Objective
• How to apply
• Deadline
• Other related Offshore Wind Predevelopment Initiatives
• Contact us

About this funding opportunity

The Offshore Wind Indigenous and Coastal Communities Grant Funding – Call for Proposals

Natural Resources Canada’s Offshore Wind Predevelopment Program (the ‘OWP Program’) aims to help create the enabling conditions for Canada’s offshore wind energy development off the coasts of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador by conducting science-based activities and supporting engagement with Indigenous and coastal communities.

The OWP Program is a significant investment in the responsible and efficient development of offshore wind energy in Atlantic Canada. A key component of this program is grant funding to support Indigenous and coastal communities’ engagement on offshore wind development.

Natural Resources Canada will provide grant funding up to $10,000 annually per recipient to support their engagement activities related to offshore wind development, until March 31st, 2027.

Natural Resources Canada is now accepting applications for this round of funding until December 18, 2024.

Objective

The objective of the Offshore Wind Indigenous and Coastal Communities Grant Funding is to assist Indigenous and coastal communities’ in accessing technical and professional support to carry out engagement activities with the offshore wind energy industry, regulators, public sector, and others, as required. This support is intended to increase communities’ knowledge of offshore wind energy development and increase their readiness to participate in offshore wind related consultations and engagements.

Two examples of eligible activities are:

• Hiring a facilitator to support your engagement with third parties, such as governments, regulators, or offshore wind developers.
• Conducting internal consultations with community members on offshore wind development to better understand their perspectives.

How to apply

Natural Resources Canada will evaluate proposals from eligible applicants.

First, please review the below Applicant Guide. Then, complete the online Proposal Form and submit your completed proposal.

1. Grant Applicant Guide
2. Grant-Proposal Form

Deadline

Please submit your proposal by December 18, 2024, for funding this fiscal year (ending March 31st, 2025). The next round of funding will become available in spring 2025.

Other related Offshore Wind Predevelopment Initiatives

Regional Marine Data Collection Campaigns

The Regional Marine Data Collection Campaigns (the ‘Campaigns’) are separate from the Offshore Wind Indigenous and Coastal Communities Grant Funding and aim to help fill data gaps and to establish the necessary baseline data to set the enabling conditions for responsible and efficient offshore wind development.

The Campaigns will be delivered using a combination of internal government resources and externally procured professional services, beginning in 2024 and running until 2028. For further information on the procurement of professional services please see the following link:

(23240-240163A RFSA Offshore Wind Data Collection Atlantic – Various Regions - Tender Notice | CanadaBuys)

The Campaigns aim to help expand on existing marine data by collecting and making publicly available data from government-procured and collected marine data to help inform the regulatory review and development process for future offshore wind projects. The marine data collection campaigns are not meant to support any specific project, rather they are meant to support responsible offshore wind development in general.

The Campaigns will collect relevant geoscientific (e.g. seabed sampling, bathymetry, and seabed photography), meteorological and oceanographic (metocean) (e.g. wind, water and wave data), and marine wildlife and habitat data (e.g. presence of species, breeding and nesting grounds) in areas off the coasts of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.

The marine data collected will build off existing information and knowledge from the Regional Assessments of Offshore Wind Development in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, to inform industry, government and regulatory decision-making on offshore wind development. For more information on the Regional Assessments, please see the following links:

• Regional Assessment of Offshore Wind Development in Nova Scotia (iaac-aeic.gc.ca)
• Regional Assessment of Offshore Wind Development in Newfoundland and Labrador (iaac-aeic.gc.ca)

Contact us

Please contact us for questions concerning the program at:

Offshorewindpredevelopment-predeveloppementeolienextracotier@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca