Siemens Engines CEO to take over the reins at RenewableUK

RenewableUK has announced current Siemens Engines CEO Dan McGrail as its new chief executive, effective from May.

Mr McGrail, who joined Siemens UK in 2004, will be responsible for navigating the industry body through the “next phase” of the energy transition.

Between 2010 and 2014, he led Siemens plans to develop and invest in offshore wind turbine manufacturing in the UK.

That included securing a “world-class” offshore wind turbine blade factory and port facility in Hull, as well as negotiating with the UK government.

He also oversaw the spend of £160 million, matched by £150m from Associated British Ports, to revitalise Hull’s Alexandra Dock, one of the company’s “most significant” factory investments in its recent history.

© Supplied by RenewableUK

As managing director of Siemens Power Generation from 2014-2017, Mr McGrail expanded Siemens UK’s activities in the thermal power market.

He became CEO of Siemens Engines in November 2017, pushing forward with the rebranding of the company.

Mr McGrail, a graduate of Liverpool’s John Moores University, is vice-chairman of the Association of Decentralised Energy and served as chairman of the group from 2016 to 2019.

He also set up the Heat Network Industry Council with the aim of engaging politicians and driving policy reform to build zero-carbon heat networks.

Mr McGrail said: “I’m very excited to be taking up this new role representing over four-hundred of the most dynamic companies working in the entire energy sector.

“RenewableUK’s members are driving the energy transition faster than anyone could have predicted, from our world-leading offshore wind industry to onshore wind and innovative marine power, energy storage and renewable hydrogen.

“We’ll need all these technologies to get to net zero at the lowest cost for consumers, and I can’t wait to start working with RenewableUK members as they invest in projects across the country, create thousands of new jobs and grow the UK supply chain in the years ahead.”

Hugh McNeal, RenewableUK’s current chief executive, said: “We’ve come a long way in the last few years and wind energy is at the heart of our future energy system.

“RenewableUK is delivering for our members and I’m confident that it will go from strength to strength with Dan in charge.

“He will be an outstanding CEO; he’s a creative entrepreneur with an exceptionally strong track record on bringing the industrial benefits of wind energy to the UK at scale.

“Having worked closely with him on the Hull project, I know how much he cares about continuing to expand the supply chain as a priority for the industry.”

Stephen Bull, the industry body’s chairman, added: “Dan is joining us at a crucial time for the sector, as the Prime Minister has put the growth of renewables at the heart of his plans for a Green Industrial Revolution.

“Our industry will create tens of thousands of highly-skilled jobs and become the backbone of the UK’s modern energy system over the course of this decade.

“Dan is passionate about the energy transition and about creating an open, inclusive and diverse working environment which will attract talented people from a wide range of backgrounds to join us as we build the energy system of the future”.