Great British Energy Confirms Dan McGrail as Permanent CEO, Signaling Continued Focus on Clean Energy Investment and Supply Chain Development
Key Insights
Great British Energy has officially appointed Dan McGrail as its permanent Chief Executive Officer, following his successful four-month interim tenure.
Under McGrail's leadership, GBE has committed £1 billion to offshore wind supply chains and £200 million for solar PV installations across 400 public sites.
The state-owned firm aims to streamline access to capital for decarbonization, despite a recent £2.5 billion funding reallocation to the UK's nuclear sector.
McGrail's appointment signals GBE's strategic focus on scaling up public investments to drive clean energy growth and job creation across the UK.
Great British Energy (GBE), the UK's nascent state-owned clean energy company, has officially confirmed Dan McGrail as its permanent Chief Executive Officer, signaling a clear strategic direction for the nation's energy transition. The appointment, effective immediately following his four-month interim tenure, underscores GBE's commitment to accelerating renewable energy deployment and bolstering domestic supply chains. McGrail, formerly CEO of industry trade body RenewableUK, brings extensive private sector experience and a deep understanding of the clean energy landscape to the pivotal role, as GBE prepares to make significant public investments aimed at driving growth and job creation across the UK.
Since his interim appointment in February, McGrail has spearheaded several key initiatives. Notably, GBE announced a substantial £1 billion investment earmarked for the UK's offshore wind supply chains, a critical move to enhance domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on international imports. Furthermore, GBE has advanced the deployment of rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, bringing clean energy to 11 schools and committing an additional £200 million for PV arrays across 400 schools and NHS sites. This includes approximately £80 million for 200 schools and £100 million for nearly 200 NHS facilities, demonstrating a direct public benefit from GBE's mandate. McGrail also advocated for amendments to the Great British Energy Bill to prohibit the use of solar products linked to forced labor in their supply chains, reinforcing ethical sourcing standards.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband lauded McGrail's permanent appointment, stating he had been “a visionary leader” during his interim period and brings “world-class private sector experience to our publicly-owned clean power company.” Miliband added, “I look forward to working with Dan to unleash the benefits of clean energy, driving growth and new jobs in communities.” McGrail himself expressed that leading GBE permanently is “a privilege,” emphasizing the company’s focus on “scaling up as Britain’s publicly owned energy company, making strategic investments that drive forward the government’s clean power mission and give people a stake in clean energy.” GBE will continue to operate from its Aberdeen headquarters.
The formal establishment of Great British Energy was solidified with the passage of the Great British Energy Bill through Parliament in early May. While initially slated for £8.3 billion in funding, a recent governmental Spending Review 2025 saw £2.5 billion reallocated from GBE to the UK’s nuclear power sector, specifically to support the development of small modular reactors (SMRs). Despite this adjustment, Rob Gilbert, GBE’s Director of Supply Chain, affirmed at a recent industry summit that the company aims to be an active partner and equity investor in clean energy supply chain businesses. GBE aspires to become “one ecosystem for public finance,” simplifying and streamlining access to capital for decarbonization projects across the nation.