Source Galileo, a leading European renewable energy development company, developing the PortWind project announced it has signed a non-exclusive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Portland Port, an established commercial port on the South Coast of England, to work together with the common goal of maximising opportunities for offshore wind development off the Dorset coast with associated enhanced port infrastructure, supply chain and community benefits onshore.
Portland Port has a history of servicing the offshore wind sector and is in discussions with potential partners to enable and support the future construction and operation of offshore wind developments in the English Channel. With significant deep-water berths and quayside space, Portland Port has the capacity and capability to host construction and operational headquarters, as well as support accommodation and transport solutions.
Offshore wind and port infrastructure are key components of Dorset’s Clean Energy Super Cluster, which seeks to drive economic transformation to power the future and open up new opportunities for training and employment for local communities. The cluster is a proactive response to align and deliver the Government’s Industrial Strategy to boost economic growth, stimulate UK supply chain development, improve energy security and resilience in the UK.
Source Galileo has an established track record of developing 10 GW of offshore wind to electricity and wind to hydrogen projects off the coasts of Europe. Its portfolio includes the PortWind project, a proposed offshore wind farm located off the Dorset Coast in the English Channel. Ingka Investments, the investment arm of Ingka Group, the largest IKEA retailer, has a 20% stake in the UK offshore wind projects of Source Galileo, which includes the PortWind project.
The project can attract international investment and has a target installed capacity of c.2 GW with the potential to deliver enough renewable energy to help power over 3 million households annually and contribute to energy security in the South West and the wider UK. The project has secured a 2.5 GW grid connection into the Chickerell 400 kV substation, near Weymouth, which includes provision for a 350 MW battery energy storage system (BESS). The project plans to bring significant investment, training and employment opportunities to Dorset. The project is at an early stage of development and any project development area will be subject to a future leasing round by The Crown Estate.
Speaking at the announcement, Garrett Morrison, Chief Development Officer at Source Galileo said:
“Source Galileo is developing a portfolio of projects that will generate substantial clean renewable energy direct to homes and businesses across the UK. We look forward to working with Portland Port and collaborating with wider potential partners to develop solutions that will assist the UK Government to attract international investment, accelerate delivery of offshore wind projects, contribute to energy security, support supply chain development, training and job creation in Dorset at the wider South West.”
Ian McQuade, General Manager – Commercial, Portland Port said:
“The Portland Port team are committed to working with Source Galileo and wider partners, to champion renewable energy deployment in the English Channel, serviced from the port to secure positive benefits for Dorset businesses and communities.
“It is still early days for the PortWind project but this MOU shows the direction of travel and supports our Green Energy Island aspiration for Portland to become a leading renewable energy hub on the south coast.”
