Renewable Energy Project Engineer
Designs and manages renewable energy projects — solar, wind, geothermal and biogas. Combines engineering with project management to deliver clean energy installations across Kenya.
- AI exposure
- 38 of 100, low exposure
- Hiring trend
- Rising
- Hiring rate
- 55%
The role
What the work is, what it pays, and what it costs you.
At a glance
- Remote friendly
- No
- Freelance potential
- Medium
- Time to senior
- 7 years
A day in the role
Designs a solar PV system for a commercial building, conducts a site assessment for a mini-grid, supervises installation of solar panels, and commissions a biogas system.
What it pays
Kenyan market, per month- Entry
- KES 60,000-120,000
- Mid
- KES 150,000-350,000
- Senior
- KES 400,000-900,000
Exposure
How much of this a machine can already do, and how that was worked out.
Where this rating sits
1,516 rated careersRated above 41% of the 1,516 careers in the catalogue, which averages 43. Inside engineering the mean is 42, across 113 careers.
Named task by task
Already automated
- AI-powered solar yield prediction
- Automated wind farm layout optimisation
- Generating energy production forecasts
- AI-assisted site suitability analysis
Still human
- Designing solar, wind and biogas systems
- Managing renewable energy project installation
- Conducting site assessments and feasibility studies
- Ensuring grid connection compliance
- Managing project budgets and contractors
- Commissioning and performance testing
Task counts
- Displacing
- Minimal — installation requires physical engineering
- Augmenting
- AI yield prediction improves system design
- Creating
- Smart grid and energy storage create new roles
Sources
Behind the rating- KenGen
- EPRA Kenya
- WEF Future of Jobs 2023
Getting in
The routes into the role and what each one asks for.
What to study
8 courses- Certificate in Sugar ManufacturingKsh 40,000a year
- Trade Test Grade III in Motor Vehicle MechanicsKsh 41,500a year
- Certificate in Metal Processing TechnologyKsh 42,600a year
- Electrical Wireman Grade I, II and IIIKsh 54,000a year
- Artisan in Automotive EngineeringKsh 67,189a year
- Artisan in Building TechnologyKsh 67,189a year
- Artisan in Carpentry and JoineryKsh 67,189a year
- Artisan in Electrical EngineeringKsh 67,189a year
How people get in
BSc Engineering + renewable energy training
5-6 yearsVery high cost
BSc from UoN, JKUAT or TUK plus renewable energy certification
Who hires
- KenGen
- Kengen Geothermal
- Solar Companies (M-Kopa, SunCulture)
- Wind Companies (Lake Turkana Wind)
- Consulting Firms
Common misconceptions
Renewable energy is just installing solar panels
It involves grid integration, energy storage, system optimisation, geothermal drilling and complex project management — renewable energy is a multi-disciplinary engineering field.
What happens next
How the role changes from here, and where it leads.
Growth outlook
- Net demand change
- +25%
- Over
- 2026-2028
- Drivers
- 100% clean energy target,Off-grid solar growth,Mini-grid expansion
- Headwinds
- Grid integration challenges,Financing for large projects
What to learn
- AI energy forecasting
- Battery storage systems
- Smart grid technology
Kenyan market notes
Kenya is a renewable energy leader — 90% of electricity from renewable sources (geothermal, hydro, wind, solar). Lake Turkana Wind Project (310MW). KenGen geothermal (Olkaria). Growing off-grid solar market (M-Kopa, SunCulture, d.light). Mini-grid development. Government target 100% clean energy. Salary: entry KES 60,000-120,000, mid KES 150,000-350,000, senior KES 400,000-900,000+.
Further reading
This role is rated 38 out of 100 today. Save it and the app keeps that number, then tells you by how much it has moved when the record is next reviewed.