19 November 2025
Senior representatives from the Dorset Clean Energy Super Cluster met yesterday with South West MPs and DESNZ Minister for Energy, Michael Shanks, at the Houses of Parliament. We informed our distinguished guests on the future of offshore wind in the English Channel and the significant economic potential of the region’s Clean Energy Super Cluster.
Dr Steve Freeman, Founding Director of REP Ltd, and Gina Cassidy, COO of Source Galileo, jointly presented the case for an unprecedented public–private collaboration that is reshaping how regional partnerships can unlock significant economic, social value and energy security benefits for Dorset, the wider South West and the UK. Together, offshore wind and the Super Cluster has the potential to attract up to £28 billion of investment at a time when the UK urgently seeks progress on all these fronts.
During the discussion, Minister Shanks highlighted three critical priorities:
We discussed how licensing and permitting continue to create friction for major infrastructure deployment.
Minister Shanks noted that several European counterparts have demonstrated greater agility in navigating regulatory processes, enabling faster progress on clean energy projects and securing tangible benefits for local communities and supply chains.
Dorset’s unique coastal geography, geology and established capabilities make it exceptionally well-placed to demonstrate leadership.
The message from industry to the Minister and the 13 cross-party MPs in attendance was clear: developers and investors stand ready to deliver, but a clear policy signal is required.
Source Galileo are developing PortWind, a 2GW offshore wind project in the Channel. Based on proven, fixed-bottom technology, PortWind represents £15 billion of inward investment that could generate more than 3,000 construction jobs and 300 long-term operational roles, delivering a substantial boost to Dorset’s economy.
However, PortWind is not a single project in isolation. It’s the anchor for a broader ecosystem of clean energy initiatives, including hydrogen storage, carbon capture and port infrastructure. Collectively, these nationally significant projects form the backbone of Dorset’s Super Cluster.
Industry appetite is strong with over £20 billion in private capital already poised to invest. The technology is mature, the sites are identified and regional partners are aligned, including the Dorset Council and other stakeholders.
What remains is the one action only government can unlock: a defined pathway for offshore wind leasing in the English Channel, alongside licences for green hydrogen and carbon capture and storage. This is an opportunity that would:
“Dorset is ready to invest, ready to build and ready to deliver. But we need policy certainty and pace. Industry cannot mobilise multi-billion-pound investments on uncertainty,” said Dr Steve Freeman.
He added: “Government and The Crown Estate have a golden opportunity to turn Dorset’s ambition into delivery. To unlock private capital, accelerate clean power deployment and reaffirm the UK’s position as one of the world’s most investable clean energy markets.”
