RenewableUK chief named as GB Energy interim CEO
UK’s new national clean power company was launched last year by incoming Labour government
RenewableUK chief Dan McGrail has been named as the interim CEO of the UK’s new national clean power company GB Energy.
McGrail will take up his new post at GB Energy next month on an initial 6-month contract at the company’s new Aberdeen headquarters, on secondment from RenewableUK.
“With the appointment of Dan McGrail as interim CEO we now have a fantastic team in place to lead Great British Energy and start delivering on our Plan for Change,” said UK energy secretary Ed Miliband in a government announcement.
“Great British Energy is at the heart of our clean power mission, and will support thousands of well-paid jobs, drive growth and investment into our communities and deliver energy security for the British people.”
McGrail is currently the chief executive of RenewableUK, the trade association for businesses developing wind and other green and clean power technologies. He has held the role since 2021, before which he was CEO of Siemens Engines. He currently sits on the board for another industry body, WindEurope.
“Homegrown, affordable clean power has never been more important and it’s a privilege to take up the role of interim CEO of Great British Energy at such a pivotal moment,” said McGrail.
“Together with the talented leadership team, I’m excited to hit the ground running to scale up the company and work with industry to unleash billions of investment in clean energy, helping to grow new industries at scale with job opportunities for hundreds of thousands of people, as well as helping the Government to achieve its clean power targets.”
The incoming Labour government launched GB Energy last year to help turbocharge the UK’s clean power rollout. The company will receive £8.3bn ($10.7bn) in funding over the next five years.
Legislation to formally create the entity GB Energy has been making its way through the House of Commons as the Great British Energy Bill.
Juergen Maier, former chief of Siemens UK, was appointed as its chair last year, while five new non-executive directors joined in January.
RenewableUK’s executive director of offshore wind Jane Cooper will be promoted to deputy CEO of RenewableUK, taking on the role of leading the organisation over this period.
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