15 June 2026
Steve Freeman has been shortlisted as a finalist for Advocate of the Year at the National Wind Energy Awards 2026.
The shortlisting recognises Steve’s long-standing contribution to offshore wind and the wider renewable energy sector, built over more than 25 years of work across project development, consenting, environmental assessment, stakeholder engagement, energy policy and strategic advisory.
Steve’s career has spanned many of the key themes now shaping the next phase of the energy transition. From early offshore wind development and leasing through to green hydrogen, regional energy clusters, supply chain growth and investment readiness, his work has focused on helping organisations turn complex energy opportunities into deliverable projects.
Over the past two years, Steve has also been supporting clients seeking to understand and deploy artificial intelligence across the energy sector. He recently completed the University of Oxford Artificial Intelligence Programme at Saïd Business School, where he combined his real-world energy sector experience with research into the impact of human-led AI on complex decision-making.
Steve said:
“It is a real honour to be shortlisted for Advocate of the Year, and I would like to thank 11 Minds Energy for their support. Offshore wind has been at the heart of my professional life and advocacy has always been central to that work.”
“The sector’s next major challenges are not only about technology, data or operational efficiency, although these remain important, it’s the space where policy, regulation, planning, infrastructure, communities, investors and delivery teams intersect.”
“These are not straightforward optimisation problems. They are judgement and coordination problems, where the challenge is making sense of complex, interdependent and contested evidence, surfacing trade-offs, and retaining the evidence base for future learning. That may sound simple enough, but in practice it is one of the hardest challenges facing the sector.”
The shortlisting comes as Steve prepares to speak at RenewableUK Global Offshore Wind 2026, where he will discuss the role of regional clean energy clusters in supporting offshore wind, economic growth and energy security.
Through Renewable Energy Partners, Steve continues to advise developers, investors, public bodies and industry organisations on offshore wind, green hydrogen, clean energy clusters and the emerging role of AI in strategic decision-making.
The National Wind Energy Awards celebrate the people, projects and organisations making a significant contribution to the UK wind industry.
