Environmental Science

Master of Science in Energy Technology

The Master of Science in Energy Technology is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in renewable energy systems, energy management, and sustainable energy technologies. The programme combines energy engineering theory with practical renewable energy and environmental technology application.

Core areas include biomass energy, photovoltaic systems, wind energy, solar thermal energy, hydro and geothermal energy, hybrid systems, energy economics and policy, environmental impact assessment, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both energy theory and practical laboratory and field work through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by JKUAT through the Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology, Kenyatta University through the Department of Energy, Gas and Petroleum Engineering, and the University of Nairobi through the Faculty of Engineering. All are public universities offering the programme over two academic years through full-time and part-time modes of study.

Students develop competencies in biomass energy, photovoltaic systems, wind energy, solar thermal energy, hydro and geothermal energy, hybrid systems, energy economics and policy, and environmental impact assessment. The programme includes coursework, examinations, laboratory work, industrial visits, and a supervised research thesis.

JKUAT charges approximately KES 206,500/year (KES 413,000 total) for energy technology. KU charges KES 408,000/year for renewable energy technology. UoN charges approximately KES 529,500/year (KES 1,059,000 total) for energy management. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division in engineering, environmental science, physics, or related science fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as renewable energy engineers, energy consultants, energy managers, solar energy specialists, wind energy engineers, policy analysts, and lecturers in energy technology across energy companies, government agencies, consulting firms, research institutions, and universities.

Skills Required

Biomass Energy Systems and Bioenergy Conversion
Photovoltaic System Design and Installation
Wind Energy Technology and Turbine Design
Solar Thermal Energy and Heating Systems
Hydro and Geothermal Energy Technologies
Hybrid Energy Systems and Grid Integration
Energy Economics, Policy and Planning
Environmental Impact Assessment and Energy Auditing
Research Methods in Energy Technology
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Biomass Energy Systems and Bioenergy Conversion
Photovoltaic System Design and Installation
Wind Energy Technology and Turbine Design
Solar Thermal Energy and Heating Systems
Hydro and Geothermal Energy Technologies
Hybrid Energy Systems and Grid Integration
Energy Economics, Policy and Planning
Environmental Impact Assessment and Energy Auditing
Research Methods in Energy Technology
Thesis Research

Certifications

EPRA Energy Professional Certification
IRENA Professional Membership

Specializations

Solar Energy

Focuses on solar energy, covering photovoltaic systems, solar thermal, solar design, solar policy, and managing solar energy.

Wind Energy

Examines wind energy, covering turbine design, wind resource assessment, wind farms, grid integration, and managing wind energy.

Biomass and Bioenergy

Covers biomass and bioenergy, covering biomass conversion, biogas, biofuels, combustion, gasification, and managing biomass energy.

Hydro and Geothermal Energy

Focuses on hydro and geothermal energy, covering hydropower, micro-hydro, geothermal systems, exploration, and managing hydro and geothermal energy.

Energy Economics and Policy

Examines energy economics and policy, covering energy markets, pricing, regulation, renewable energy policy, and managing energy policy.

Hybrid Energy Systems

Covers hybrid energy systems, covering system integration, grid integration, storage, microgrids, and managing hybrid energy systems.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 400,000
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Biomass Energy Systems and Bioenergy Conversion
Photovoltaic System Design and Installation
Wind Energy Technology and Turbine Design
Solar Thermal Energy and Heating Systems
Hydro and Geothermal Energy Technologies
Hybrid Energy Systems and Grid Integration
Energy Economics, Policy and Planning
Environmental Impact Assessment and Energy Auditing
Research Methods in Energy Technology
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Biomass Energy Systems and Bioenergy Conversion
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines biomass conversion, biogas, biofuels, combustion, gasification, and managing biomass energy.
Photovoltaic System Design and Installation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers PV cell technology, system design, installation, sizing, inverters, and managing PV systems.
Research Methodology in Energy Technology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, laboratory methods, and conducting energy research, preparing students for their thesis.
Wind Energy Technology and Turbine Design
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines turbine design, wind resource assessment, aerodynamics, wind farms, and managing wind energy.
Solar Thermal Energy and Heating Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers solar collectors, water heating, space heating, cooling, industrial applications, and managing solar thermal.
Hybrid Energy Systems and Grid Integration
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines system integration, grid integration, storage, microgrids, off-grid systems, and managing hybrid systems.
Energy Economics and Policy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers energy markets, pricing, regulation, renewable energy policy, investment analysis, and managing energy economics.
Hydro and Geothermal Energy Technologies
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines hydropower, micro-hydro, geothermal systems, exploration, drilling, and managing hydro and geothermal energy.
Environmental and Social Impact Assessment
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers EIA, energy auditing, environmental audit, sustainability, social impact, and managing environmental assessment.
Energy Storage and Battery Technologies
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines battery technology, thermal storage, pumped hydro, hydrogen, fuel cells, and managing energy storage.
Energy Efficiency and Demand-Side Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers energy efficiency, demand-side management, building energy, industrial energy, auditing, and managing energy efficiency.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on an energy technology topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and energy knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Solar Energy
Focuses on solar energy, covering photovoltaic systems, solar thermal, solar design, solar policy, and managing solar energy.
Wind Energy
Examines wind energy, covering turbine design, wind resource assessment, wind farms, grid integration, and managing wind energy.
Biomass and Bioenergy
Covers biomass and bioenergy, covering biomass conversion, biogas, biofuels, combustion, gasification, and managing biomass energy.
Hydro and Geothermal Energy
Focuses on hydro and geothermal energy, covering hydropower, micro-hydro, geothermal systems, exploration, and managing hydro and geothermal energy.
Energy Economics and Policy
Examines energy economics and policy, covering energy markets, pricing, regulation, renewable energy policy, and managing energy policy.
Hybrid Energy Systems
Covers hybrid energy systems, covering system integration, grid integration, storage, microgrids, and managing hybrid energy systems.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Energy Technology programme combines lectures, laboratory sessions, field visits, practical workshops, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover biomass energy, photovoltaic systems, wind energy, solar thermal, and hybrid systems. Biomass energy sessions examine biomass conversion, biogas, biofuels, combustion, gasification, and managing biomass energy. Photovoltaic sessions cover PV cell technology, system design, installation, sizing, inverters, and managing PV systems. Wind energy sessions cover turbine design, wind resource assessment, aerodynamics, wind farms, and managing wind energy. Solar thermal sessions cover solar collectors, water heating, space heating, cooling, and managing solar thermal. Hydro and geothermal sessions cover hydropower, micro-hydro, geothermal systems, exploration, drilling, and managing hydro and geothermal energy. Hybrid systems sessions cover system integration, grid integration, storage, microgrids, and managing hybrid systems. Energy economics sessions cover energy markets, pricing, regulation, renewable energy policy, investment, and managing energy economics. Environmental impact assessment sessions cover EIA, energy auditing, environmental audit, sustainability, and managing environmental impact. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with PV testing, biomass conversion, wind tunnel testing, and solar thermal experiments. Field visits to renewable energy installations, power plants, and energy projects provide real-world exposure. Practical workshops provide hands-on experience with system design, installation, energy auditing, and performance assessment. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in energy technology. Guest lectures from experienced energy engineers, renewable energy professionals, and policy makers provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on an energy technology topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for energy technology professionals with Kenya's renewable energy expansion, geothermal development, wind projects, solar adoption, and energy access initiatives.
Programme offered by three public universities (JKUAT, KU, UoN), providing institutional choice.
JKUAT offers competitive fees at approximately KES 206,500/year (KES 413,000 total) for energy technology.
DAAD scholarships specifically available for JKUAT MSc in Energy Technology programme, providing international funding opportunities.

Against it

UoN fees are significantly higher at approximately KES 529,500/year (KES 1,059,000 total) for energy management.
KU fees at KES 408,000/year are also relatively high for renewable energy technology.
No private university confirmed offering this programme, limiting options.
Programme requires engineering, environmental science, physics, or related science background, which limits access for non-related graduates.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 181 environmental science courses

Public207k to 400k

207k at JKUAT400k at University of Nairobi

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

JKUAT 413,000/2yr=206,500/yr (kenyaeducationguide). UoN unverified. No private.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. DAAD scholarships are specifically available for JKUAT MSc in Energy Technology programme. JKUAT may offer postgraduate bursaries for eligible students. Some energy companies and international organisations may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
DAAD Scholarship
JKUAT Postgraduate Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
DAAD Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 500,000Kenyan
DAAD scholarships specifically available for JKUAT MSc in Energy Technology programme. Applications by 15th November of preceding year.
JKUAT Postgraduate Bursary
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
JKUAT offers postgraduate bursaries for eligible students.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Most universities require Upper Second Class Honours in engineering, environmental science, physics, or related science fields. Lower Second Division holders with relevant experience are considered. JKUAT also accepts Pass degree holders with a Postgraduate Diploma in Renewable Energy Technology. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, laboratory reports, field visit reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering biomass, PV, wind, solar thermal, hybrid systems, and energy economics.
Laboratory and Practical Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through laboratory exercises, system design, energy auditing, field visits, and demonstrating energy technology skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on an energy technology topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and energy knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). JKUAT, Kenyatta University, and University of Nairobi (all public) offer MSc in Energy Technology or related energy programmes. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in energy technology. Graduates are eligible for EPRA energy professional certification and IRENA professional membership.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. JKUAT, Kenyatta University, and University of Nairobi (all public) offer MSc in Energy Technology or related energy programmes. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in energy technology. Graduates are eligible for EPRA energy professional certification and IRENA professional membership.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Renewable Energy Engineer
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 650,000
Designs and manages renewable energy systems, overseeing solar, wind, biomass, hydro, and managing renewable energy projects.
Energy Consultant
High demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 600,000
Provides energy consulting, overseeing energy audits, feasibility, design, advisory, and managing energy consulting.
Energy Manager
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 650,000
Manages energy operations, overseeing efficiency, procurement, compliance, reporting, and managing energy operations.
Solar Energy Specialist
High demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 600,000
Specialises in solar energy, overseeing PV design, installation, maintenance, and managing solar energy projects.
Energy Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Analyses energy policy, overseeing policy research, analysis, advocacy, and managing energy policy.
Energy Technology Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches energy technology at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

HOMER
SoftwarePrimary
HOMER for hybrid system optimisation, covering system design, sizing, simulation, economic analysis, and managing hybrid energy systems.
PVsyst
Software
PVsyst for PV system design, covering solar resource, system sizing, shading, performance, and managing PV systems.
RETScreen
Software
RETScreen for energy project analysis, covering feasibility, financial analysis, GHG, and managing energy project assessment.
MATLAB
Software
MATLAB for energy system modelling, covering simulation, analysis, optimisation, and managing energy system models.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Energy technology is just about solar panels.
Energy technology covers comprehensive biomass, wind, solar thermal, hydro, geothermal, hybrid systems, economics, and policy beyond just solar panels.
This programme is only for engineers.
Energy technology skills are valuable for environmental scientists, physicists, policy makers, economists, researchers, and entrepreneurs beyond just engineers.
Energy technology has limited career prospects in Kenya.
With Kenya's renewable energy expansion, geothermal development, wind projects, solar adoption, and energy access initiatives, demand for energy technology professionals is high in Kenya.
Renewable energy is just about generating electricity.
Renewable energy covers comprehensive generation, storage, grid integration, distribution, policy, economics, and environmental impact.
Biomass energy is just about burning wood.
Biomass energy covers comprehensive conversion, biogas, biofuels, gasification, combustion, and sustainable biomass management.
Energy economics is just about calculating costs.
Energy economics covers comprehensive markets, pricing, regulation, investment analysis, policy, and international energy trade.