GB Energy appoints interim CEO based at Aberdeen HQ

Dan McGrail has been appointed interim chief executive officer of Great British Energy, the new publicly-owned clean energy company, and will work from its Aberdeen headquarters.

He is currently chief executive of RenewableUK, the trade association for businesses developing wind, wave, tidal, storage and green hydrogen projects in the UK, and their supply chain companies.

The announcement follows a recent appointment of five non-executive directors to the start-up board.

Mr McGrail, who will take up his post in March on an initial six-month contract on secondment from RenewableUK, was previously chief executive of Siemens Engines and managing director of Siemens Power Generation.

GB Energy won’t supply power to homes but will invest in new renewable technology and green power projects.

In 2024, the UK Government confirmed GB Energy would be based in Aberdeen, and more than 1,000 jobs could be created in the city.

Two additional sites will open in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Dan McGrail said: “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.

“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 achieve its clean power targets.”

Energy secretary Ed Miliband said: “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.

“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.”