Simply Blue Group is exploring the potential for offshore wind development off the coast of Nova Scotia, to support Canada’s clean energy transition. With Canada targeting net-zero emissions by 2050 and Nova Scotia aiming to offer leases for 5 GW of offshore wind by 2030, this initiative will assess how offshore wind can contribute to long-term energy security and economic growth. 

By harnessing the vast wind resources of the North Atlantic, this exploration will evaluate the feasibility of offshore wind in delivering large-scale, zero-carbon electricity to the region. It will also examine how offshore wind can integrate into Nova Scotia’s energy mix, reducing reliance on fossil fuels while supporting industrial decarbonization. 

Simply Blue Group has a dedicated team based in its Halifax, Nova Scotia office, working to explore the opportunities of offshore wind development in the region. This project aims to provide critical insights to help establish a local offshore wind supply chain, create long-term employment opportunities, and position Nova Scotia as a leader in offshore renewable energy. 

Simply Blue Group is exploring offshore wind development on the Southeast coast of Ireland, through Aird Mhór na Mara, evaluating how it can contribute to Ireland’s clean energy future. With Ireland setting an ambitious target of at least 37 GW of offshore wind by 2050 and committing to 80% renewable electricity by 2030, offshore wind will play a central role in securing a sustainable and independent energy system. 

This initiative will assess how Ireland’s abundant wind resources can be harnessed to generate large-scale, zero-carbon electricity, helping to phase out fossil fuels and enhance grid stability. It will also examine the economic opportunities offshore wind presents, from long-term job creation to the development of a resilient domestic supply chain. 

By advancing both fixed offshore wind exploration in this region, Simply Blue Group aims to support Ireland’s leadership in renewable energy while contributing to its net-zero commitments and energy independence. 

In March 2020, Total teamed up with Simply Blue Energy in a JV named Blue Gem Wind, to develop floating wind sites in the Welsh waters of the Celtic Sea. An application was submitted at that time to the Crown Estate for the first demonstration site, the 100MW Erebus Project south of Pembroke Dock where Blue Gem Wind has recently set up a new office. This site and others that are planned to follow will be developed for deployment of Principle Power’s WindFloat® technology with the turbines being chosen during the development process.

Simply Blue Energy as part of Blue Gem Wind has been engaging with the local supply chain around the Celtic Sea to help them be ready to take part in this development. The target commissioning date is for the mid-2020s and will be subject to the availability of suitable revenue support as described in Renewable UK’s recent report Floating Wind, the UK Industry Ambition published in October 2019. Simply Blue Energy was represented on the task force that drew up the report. The opportunity has been given a lift by the launch, on 2nd March 2020, of the government’s consultation on amendments to the CFD scheme which made significant proposals on how it will support this new sector.

A report by the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult focusing on supply chain opportunities  produced for the Welsh Government and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership identified that floating offshore wind projects in the Celtic Sea could support 3,200 jobs in south west England and Wales and bring £682m in benefits to the local supply chain by 2030.

The Emerald Floating Wind Project, situated in the Celtic Sea off the south coast of Ireland, will utilise cutting-edge Floating Offshore Wind (FOW) technology to construct a wind farm which, upon completion, will have a total installed capacity of up to 1.3 GW. This is equivalent to powering over 1 million Irish homes.

The proposed project could transform the maritime area that previously was home to the Kinsale gas platform into a zone where renewable energy is produced from the wind. The project will also help Ireland to improve energy security and decarbonize the energy supply while playing an important role in helping the Irish government meet its target of 2GW floating wind in development by 2030.

The use of floating technologies allows wind turbines to be located in deeper waters than fixed-bottom turbines. This allows the turbines to be placed further from shore (35-60km offshore) which will reduce visual impacts and gain access to better wind speeds.

The Western Star Floating Wind Project, situated in the Atlantic Ocean, off west coast of Ireland, will utilise cutting-edge Floating Offshore Wind (FOW) technology to construct a wind farm which, upon completion, will have a total installed capacity of up to 1.35 GW. This is equivalent to powering over 1 million Irish homes.

The proposed project will help Ireland to improve energy security and decarbonize the energy supply while playing an important role in helping the Irish government meet its target of 2GW floating wind in development by 2030.

The innovative floating technology proposed for this project will allow the turbines to be located far from shore and in waters over 100m deep where traditional fixed bottom turbine foundations would be uneconomical. This allows the turbines to be placed further from shore (35-60km offshore) which will reduce visual impacts and gain access to better wind speeds.

IberBlue Wind is a joint venture specialized in the design, development and management of floating offshore wind farms that will operate in the Iberian market. Made up of the Irish company Simply Blue Group, a leader in the early-stage development of floating offshore wind, Spanish companies Proes Consultores, the engineering division of the Grupo Amper, and FF New Energy Venture (FF NEV), developer of renewable projects.

Iberblue Wind will utilise innovative and cutting-edge floating offshore wind technologies to produce zero-carbon electricity through five of its floating wind projects. These projects aim to be a steppingstone for Spain and Portugal to progress towards a net-zero future, contributing to the Spanish government’s target of 2GW of installed offshore wind by 2030 and to the Portuguese government’s target of 3GW of installed offshore wind by 2030.

Portugal:

Creoula Floating Wind will located in front of the coast of Viana do Castelo (North Region) of Portugal. Creoula, jointly with its twin project, Juan Sebastián Elcano could constitute the first cross-border project.

Botafogo Floating Wind will be located near the coast of Figueira da Foz (Coimbra District) in Portugal.

Spain:

Spain’s offshore wind sector is at a turning point.

The Spanish government aims to install about 3 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030, with much of that likely coming from floating offshore wind technology, since much of Spain’s coastline is too deep for conventional fixed‐foundations. As of 2025, Spain has no large commercial offshore wind farms in operation and it is clear that the 2030 cannot be met.

However, a regulatory progress is underway. A key legal instrument, Royal Decree 962/2024, was passed in September 2024. It establishes procedures for awarding projects via competitive auctions, regulating access to grids and the maritime‐terrestrial public domain, and defining requirements such as environmental impacts and space use.  Spain has also identified maritime zones via its Maritime Spatial Plans (POEMs) for initial offshore wind projects.

The Iberblue Wind partners are positioned to facilitate Spain’s progress towards a net zero future and are actively engaged in advocacy to unlock Spain’s floating offshore wind potential.

The Salamander project will harness the offshore wind potential of the North Sea to help create a clean, sustainable future for everyone.

The 100 MW Salamander floating wind project, a joint venture between OOW, Simply Blue Group and Subsea7, will be a major contributor to ensuring the UK government’s target of delivering 5 GW of operational floating offshore wind by 2030 is both achievable and to the maximum benefit of public and private stakeholders.

The pioneering project, located 35km off Peterhead on the East Coast of Scotland, is designed to provide the Scottish supply chain with an early capacity development opportunity, enabling it to play a much greater role in subsequent large-scale floating offshore wind buildout. 

The project will deploy innovative and cutting-edge floating offshore wind technologies to support the cost reduction and learning journey needed for the commercial deployment of floating offshore wind.

In May 2023, Salamander signed an exclusivity agreement as part of Crown Estate Scotland’s Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) leasing round.

The 100MW project seeks to be a contributor in the delivery of the Scottish Government’s target 11 GW of offshore wind by 2030 and the UK Government’s target of 5GW of operational floating offshore wind by the same date.

Further information concerning the proposed floating offshore wind farm can be found at: www.salamanderfloatingwind.com

The Olympic Offshore Wind project will form a gateway to commercial offshore wind farms in Northern Ireland. It will support a clean, sustainable future in the region and will also support a diverse route to market.

This project will utilise innovative and cutting-edge offshore wind technologies to produce zero-carbon electricity. The development aims to help Northern Ireland and UK to progress towards a net-zero future.

The project is in planning stage and will help Northern Ireland to achieve its’ ambition for offshore wind as outlined in the Offshore Renewable Energy Action Plan’

This project will provide an opportunity for the local supply chain to set up and prepare for commercial-scale opportunities offshore Northern Ireland. This will allow NI to maximise the financial benefit of its strong offshore wind resource and generate long-term jobs for its local communities while contributing to the UK’s emission reduction and floating offshore wind deployment targets.