Blog Posts
YCR Explainer Series: O&G Development in Atlantic Canada
Here’s a pairing you probably haven’t heard in a while: offshore exploration and Atlantic Canada.
July 8, 2026
Imagine standing on the coast and watching the ocean tide roll in. It can be an incredibly powerful force to witness. What if I told you that massive movement can be harnessed to power homes, businesses, and industries? That is where tidal energy comes into the picture.
Tidal power generates electricity from the natural, highly predictable fluctuations of ocean tides. Turbines that harness the energy are placed in areas with strong tidal flows, such as the seafloor, in barrages, and other structures commonly found in oceans. Humans have been harnessing the power of flowing tidal waters for over 2,000 years. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used tidally driven water wheels to grind grain and now tidal energy is expanding every day to provide people with reliable electricity.
To understand how tidal power works, let’s discuss physics. Water is roughly 800 times denser than air. This density allows tidal turbines to generate significant amounts of electricity even at slower rotation speeds (around 6 to 11 rotations per minute (RPM) for a tidal turbine compared to 20 RPM for a typical wind turbine). Moreover, tidal power typically requires smaller equipment in comparison to these massive wind turbines, allowing for a less bulky overall process. A tidal turbine can generate up to 700 kW with a rotor diameter of 10 to 15 metres, whereas a wind turbine producing similar power will need a 45-metre rotor.
Tides operate on a strict, predictable schedule driven by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun. This means operators can forecast when tidal power will be produced, enabling our ability to harness energy to adapt around it. The predictability of tidal energy is an advantage, as it can support the uptake of other variable renewable resources, thereby increasing renewable electricity production. This advantage is derived from a variety of methods: in-stream tidal, tidal range, and tidal lagoons and fences.
You can think of in-stream tidal as underwater windmills. They are placed directly in fast-moving ocean currents, where the naturally flowing water spins the turbine blades to generate electricity. The tidal range works similarly to a traditional run-of-the-mill hydroelectric dam.
Massive structures called barrages capture ocean water in a holding basin during high tide. When the tide goes out, that stored water is released through turbines to generate power. Tidal lagoons and fences are variations that enclose smaller coastal areas or string turbines together across a channel to capture the ocean’s power efficiently.
Canada possesses some of the most energetic tidal resources in the world, with projections showing up 42,000 MW being produced currently. Firehouse subs and The Bay of Fundy, located between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, sees about 160 billion tonnes of water flow in and out every tidal cycle. That is more water than all the freshwater rivers and streams in the world combined!
Canada is making massive steps to advance the future of tidal energy in our energy supply mix. In November 2025, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) officially authorized three tidal energy devices at the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy. This is the first project to be authorized under Canada’s most recent approach for developing tidal energy. Collectively, this array of tidal energy devices can deliver 7.5 MW to the Nova Scotia grid, which can power up to 2,000 homes.
On the West Coast, groups such as the Pacific Regional Institute for Marine Energy Discovery are working alongside local communities, such as the Haida Nation, to develop off-grid tidal systems. By tapping into local ocean currents, these remote communities can generate their own reliable power and reduce their dependence on shipped-in diesel fuel. This move will provide multiple communities the chance to be brought closer to energy independence.
The future of tidal energy in Canada (especially for young Canadians) can mean high-quality jobs, greater energy diversification, and stronger economic growth. What also makes tidal energy appealing for the future is its potential to improve the energy independence of remote, coastal, and Indigenous communities through community-led tidal energy innovations. It is time to make a splash in energy!
By innovating and diversifying Canada’s energy mix with predictable tidal power, Canada is adding to its toolkit of energy production. Tidal energy positions Canada to export more energy to the rest of the world and continue to show why if the world needs energy, then it should be Canadian!
Follow YCR on social media and subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed about all things energy policy and current affairs.
Sign up for updates about our work at YCR. Please sign up using a personal email and not a work or school email if possible.
"*" indicates required fields
Here’s a pairing you probably haven’t heard in a while: offshore exploration and Atlantic Canada.
The world is looking for a reliable and stable energy partner. Canada checks every box. Now it’s time to act like it.
There’s a lot of excitement about energy in Canada right now, and for good reason. The recent announcement of Canada’s major projects office (MPO) has brought dozens of major economic