Environmental Science

Master of Science in Renewable Energy

The Master of Science in Renewable Energy is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in renewable energy systems, energy management, and sustainable energy technology. The programme combines renewable energy theory with practical system design, energy modelling, and policy analysis application.

Core areas include solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy, geothermal energy, hydropower, energy storage, energy efficiency, energy modelling, energy policy, environmental impact, 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 as MSc in Renewable Energy through the School of Mathematics, Manufacturing, Mechanical and Energy Engineering, and Kenyatta University as MSc in Renewable Energy Technology through the Department of Energy, Gas and Petroleum Engineering in the School of Engineering. Both are public universities offering programmes over two academic years through full-time and part-time modes of study.

Students develop competencies in solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, hydropower, energy storage, energy efficiency, energy modelling, and energy policy. The programme includes coursework, examinations, laboratory work, field visits, and a supervised research thesis.

Kenyatta University charges approximately KES 408,000/year for MSc in Renewable Energy Technology. JKUAT charges approximately KES 200,000/year based on similar JKUAT energy programmes including MSc in Energy Technology at KES 413,000 total and MSc in Sustainable Energy Engineering at KES 362,000 total. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division in engineering, physics, energy technology, or related fields from a recognised university.

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

Skills Required

Solar Energy Systems Design and Analysis
Wind Energy Systems and Turbine Technology
Biomass and Bioenergy Conversion
Geothermal Energy Technology
Energy Storage and Battery Systems
Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management
Energy Modelling and Simulation
Energy Policy and Environmental Impact
Research Methods in Renewable Energy
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Solar Energy Systems Design and Analysis
Wind Energy Systems and Turbine Technology
Biomass and Bioenergy Conversion
Geothermal Energy Technology
Energy Storage and Battery Systems
Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management
Energy Modelling and Simulation
Energy Policy and Environmental Impact
Research Methods in Renewable Energy
Thesis Research

Certifications

EPRA Energy Professional Certification
IRENA Renewable Energy Certification

Specializations

Solar Energy

Focuses on solar energy, covering PV systems, solar thermal, CSP, system design, and managing solar energy projects.

Wind Energy

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

Biomass and Bioenergy

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

Geothermal Energy

Focuses on geothermal energy, covering exploration, drilling, power plants, direct use, and managing geothermal energy projects.

Energy Storage

Examines energy storage, covering batteries, thermal storage, pumped hydro, hydrogen, and managing energy storage systems.

Energy Policy and Management

Covers energy policy and management, covering policy, regulation, markets, planning, and managing energy policy and programmes.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 408,000
Private, up to: Ksh 0
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

Solar Energy Systems Design and Analysis
Wind Energy Systems and Turbine Technology
Biomass and Bioenergy Conversion
Geothermal Energy Technology
Energy Storage and Battery Systems
Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management
Energy Modelling and Simulation
Energy Policy and Environmental Impact
Research Methods in Renewable Energy
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Solar Energy Systems and Technology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines PV systems, solar thermal, CSP, system design, and managing solar energy projects.
Wind Energy Systems and Turbine Technology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers turbine design, wind resource assessment, wind farms, grid integration, and managing wind energy projects.
Research Methods in Renewable Energy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, energy research methods, and conducting renewable energy research, preparing students for their thesis.
Biomass and Bioenergy Conversion
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines biofuels, biogas, combustion, gasification, waste-to-energy, and managing biomass energy systems.
Geothermal Energy Technology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers exploration, drilling, power plants, direct use, and managing geothermal energy projects.
Energy Storage and Battery Systems
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines batteries, thermal storage, pumped hydro, hydrogen, flywheels, and managing energy storage systems.
Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers demand side management, energy audit, optimisation, building efficiency, and managing energy efficiency.
Energy Modelling and Simulation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines simulation, forecasting, optimisation, HOMER, RETScreen, PVsyst, and managing energy modelling.
Energy Policy and Environmental Impact
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers policy, regulation, markets, planning, environmental impact, and managing energy policy.
Hydropower and Small Hydro Systems
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines hydropower, small hydro, micro hydro, turbines, site assessment, and managing hydropower projects.
Energy Project Management and Economics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers project management, economics, financing, feasibility, and managing renewable energy projects.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a renewable energy topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and energy knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Solar Energy
Focuses on solar energy, covering PV systems, solar thermal, CSP, system design, and managing solar energy projects.
Wind Energy
Examines wind energy, covering turbine design, wind resource assessment, wind farms, and managing wind energy projects.
Biomass and Bioenergy
Covers biomass and bioenergy, covering biofuels, biogas, combustion, gasification, and managing biomass energy systems.
Geothermal Energy
Focuses on geothermal energy, covering exploration, drilling, power plants, direct use, and managing geothermal energy projects.
Energy Storage
Examines energy storage, covering batteries, thermal storage, pumped hydro, hydrogen, and managing energy storage systems.
Energy Policy and Management
Covers energy policy and management, covering policy, regulation, markets, planning, and managing energy policy and programmes.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Renewable Energy programme combines lectures, laboratory sessions, field visits, practical workshops, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover solar energy, wind energy, biomass, geothermal, and energy policy. Solar energy sessions examine PV systems, solar thermal, CSP, system design, and managing solar energy projects. Wind energy sessions cover turbine design, wind resource assessment, wind farms, and managing wind energy projects. Biomass sessions cover biofuels, biogas, combustion, gasification, and managing biomass energy systems. Geothermal sessions cover exploration, drilling, power plants, direct use, and managing geothermal energy projects. Energy storage sessions cover batteries, thermal storage, pumped hydro, hydrogen, and managing energy storage systems. Energy efficiency sessions cover demand side management, audit, optimisation, and managing energy efficiency. Energy modelling sessions cover simulation, forecasting, optimisation, software tools, and managing energy modelling. Energy policy sessions cover policy, regulation, markets, planning, environmental impact, and managing energy policy. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, energy monitoring, and testing equipment. Field visits provide hands-on experience with renewable energy installations, power plants, and energy projects. Practical workshops provide hands-on experience with HOMER, RETScreen, PVsyst, and energy modelling software. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in renewable energy and presenting research findings. Guest lectures from experienced energy engineers, policy makers, and industry professionals provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a renewable energy topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for renewable energy professionals with Kenya's push for 100% clean energy by 2030, geothermal expansion, and off-grid solar growth.
Programme offered by two leading public universities (JKUAT, KU) with strong engineering and energy departments.
JKUAT offers competitive fees at approximately KES 200,000/year based on similar energy programmes.
Graduates are eligible for EPRA and IRENA professional certifications, enhancing career prospects.

Against it

KU charges significantly higher fees at approximately KES 408,000/year.
JKUAT specific renewable energy fees not independently verified from official JKUAT website.
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Programme requires engineering or physics background, which may limit access for non-technical 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

Public200k to 408k

200k at JKUAT408k at Kenyatta University

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 ~200,000/yr. KU 408,000/yr (ku.ac.ke). No private confirmed.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. JKUAT and KU may offer postgraduate bursaries and scholarships. Some energy companies and government agencies may sponsor staff for postgraduate study. International organisations like IRENA may offer research grants and fellowships.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
JKUAT Postgraduate Bursary
KU Postgraduate Scholarship

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
JKUAT Postgraduate Bursary
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
JKUAT offers postgraduate bursaries for eligible students.
KU Postgraduate Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
KU offers postgraduate scholarships 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: JKUAT requires a Bachelor's degree with at least Second Class Honours in a relevant field. KU requires Upper Second in Energy Engineering/Technology or related engineering fields, or Lower Second with two years experience in the energy sector. Relevant fields include mechanical, electrical, chemical, civil engineering, physics, chemistry, and technology education. 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, design projects, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering solar energy, wind energy, biomass, geothermal, and energy policy.
Practical and Laboratory Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through laboratory exercises, system design, energy modelling, field visits, and demonstrating renewable energy skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a renewable energy 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 and Kenyatta University (both public) offer MSc in Renewable Energy or Renewable Energy Technology. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in renewable energy. Graduates are eligible for EPRA energy professional certification and IRENA renewable energy certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. JKUAT and Kenyatta University (both public) offer MSc in Renewable Energy or Renewable Energy Technology. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in renewable energy. Graduates are eligible for EPRA energy professional certification and IRENA renewable energy certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Renewable Energy Engineer
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 600,000
Designs and manages renewable energy systems, overseeing solar, wind, biomass, and managing renewable energy projects.
Energy Consultant
High demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 650,000
Provides energy consulting, overseeing advisory, assessment, strategy, and managing energy consulting.
Energy Manager
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 600,000
Manages energy operations, overseeing efficiency, procurement, planning, and managing energy management.
Solar Energy Specialist
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 550,000
Specialises in solar energy, overseeing PV design, installation, maintenance, and managing solar energy projects.
Wind Energy Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 600,000
Engineers wind energy systems, overseeing turbine design, site assessment, and managing wind energy projects.
Renewable Energy Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches renewable energy at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

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

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Renewable energy is just about solar panels.
Renewable energy covers comprehensive solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, hydropower, energy storage, efficiency, and policy beyond just solar panels.
This programme is only for electrical engineers.
Renewable energy skills are valuable for mechanical, chemical, civil, environmental engineers, physicists, and policy professionals beyond just electrical engineers.
Wind energy is just about building turbines.
Wind energy covers comprehensive resource assessment, turbine design, site selection, grid integration, and wind farm management.
Biomass energy is just about burning wood.
Biomass energy covers comprehensive biofuels, biogas, gasification, combustion, and waste-to-energy technologies.
Energy storage is just about batteries.
Energy storage covers comprehensive batteries, thermal storage, pumped hydro, hydrogen, flywheels, and supercapacitors.
Energy policy is just about setting tariffs.
Energy policy covers comprehensive regulation, markets, planning, environmental impact, incentives, and international agreements.