Abstract: The Northwest Passage is a fragile environment. It is also a strategic location for energy development. Therefore, we evaluated offshore wind energy potential over the Northwest Passage to provide information to support decisions for offshore wind energy site selection and development. Using ERA-Interim wind fields data, we analyzed characteristics of wind energy over the Northwest Passage, including wind power density, and wind energy availability, abundance, stability and storage. Results show that wind energy is abundant in the Northwest Passage with the highest wind energy potential located in the eastern Arctic Ocean around Davis Strait, Amundsen Gulf, and areas between Parry Islands and McClintock Strait (such as Victoria Strait). These regions are key area for maritime transport and have high wind energy potential in terms of wind power density, effective wind speed and energy level occurrence probabilities, energy storage and coefficient of variation without notable signs of decline over the long term.

Key words: Northwest Passage, wind energy, resource assessment, areas with high wind energy potential