Environmental Science

Master of Science in Renewable Energy and Technology

The Master of Science in Renewable Energy and Technology is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in renewable energy systems, energy technology, and sustainable energy engineering. The programme provides specialised training in solar energy, wind energy, biomass, hydropower, energy storage, energy policy, and energy systems design.

Core areas include renewable energy technologies, energy systems design, energy conversion, energy policy and economics, environmental impact of energy systems, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, laboratory sessions, fieldwork, and research.

The programme is offered by Kenyatta University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, and Multimedia University of Kenya, all as public institutions. Multiple study modes are available including full-time and part-time over two years, combining coursework with research.

Students develop competencies in renewable energy systems, energy technology, energy conversion, energy policy, environmental impact assessment, and research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, laboratory work, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates for energy sector technical and managerial roles.

KU charges approximately KES 408,000 per year while JKUAT charges approximately KES 413,000 per year. No private university confirmed offering this programme. Entry requires at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in Engineering, Energy, Physics, or a related field from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as renewable energy engineers, energy consultants, energy policy analysts, project managers, research scientists, and lecturers across energy companies, government ministries, NGOs, research institutions, and international energy organisations.

Skills Required

Renewable Energy Systems Design
Solar Energy Technology
Wind Energy Technology
Biomass and Bioenergy Systems
Energy Storage and Conversion
Energy Policy and Economics
Environmental Impact Assessment for Energy
Energy Systems Modelling and Simulation
Research Methods in Energy Technology
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Renewable Energy Technologies
Solar Energy Systems
Wind Energy Systems
Biomass and Bioenergy
Energy Storage and Conversion
Energy Policy and Economics
Environmental Impact of Energy Systems
Energy Systems Modelling
Research Methods in Energy Technology
Thesis Research

Certifications

EPRA Professional Certification
IRENA Professional Membership

Specializations

Solar Energy Technology

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

Wind Energy Technology

Examines wind energy technology, covering wind, turbines, systems, design, and managing wind energy systems and technology.

Biomass and Bioenergy

Covers biomass and bioenergy, covering biomass, bioenergy, conversion, systems, and managing biomass and bioenergy systems.

Energy Policy and Economics

Focuses on energy policy and economics, covering policy, economics, energy, markets, and managing energy policy and economics.

Energy Storage Systems

Examines energy storage systems, covering storage, batteries, systems, conversion, and managing energy storage systems and technology.

Sustainable Energy Engineering

Covers sustainable energy engineering, covering sustainability, energy, engineering, systems, and managing sustainable energy systems and engineering.

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

Renewable Energy Technologies
Solar Energy Systems
Wind Energy Systems
Biomass and Bioenergy
Energy Storage and Conversion
Energy Policy and Economics
Environmental Impact of Energy Systems
Energy Systems Modelling
Research Methods in Energy Technology
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Renewable Energy Technologies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines renewable energy technologies, covering solar, wind, biomass, hydropower, and managing renewable energy technologies and systems.
Solar Energy Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers solar energy systems, covering solar, photovoltaic, thermal, systems, and managing solar energy systems and technology.
Wind Energy Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines wind energy systems, covering wind, turbines, systems, design, and managing wind energy systems and technology.
Biomass and Bioenergy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers biomass and bioenergy, covering biomass, bioenergy, conversion, systems, and managing biomass and bioenergy systems.
Energy Storage and Conversion
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines energy storage, covering storage, batteries, systems, conversion, and managing energy storage systems and technology.
Energy Policy and Economics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers energy policy and economics, covering policy, economics, energy, markets, and managing energy policy and economics.
Environmental Impact of Energy Systems
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines environmental impact, covering environment, impact, energy, assessment, and managing environmental impact of energy systems.
Energy Systems Modelling and Simulation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers energy systems modelling, covering modelling, simulation, energy, systems, and managing energy systems modelling and simulation.
Research Methods in Energy Technology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines research, methods, energy, design, and conducting research in energy technology, preparing students for their thesis.
Hydropower and Geothermal Systems
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers hydropower and geothermal, covering hydropower, geothermal, systems, design, and managing hydropower and geothermal energy systems.
Energy Project Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines energy project management, covering projects, energy, management, planning, and managing renewable energy projects.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 212 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a renewable energy technology topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and energy technology knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Solar Energy Technology
Focuses on solar energy technology, covering solar, photovoltaic, thermal, systems, and managing solar energy systems and technology.
Wind Energy Technology
Examines wind energy technology, covering wind, turbines, systems, design, and managing wind energy systems and technology.
Biomass and Bioenergy
Covers biomass and bioenergy, covering biomass, bioenergy, conversion, systems, and managing biomass and bioenergy systems.
Energy Policy and Economics
Focuses on energy policy and economics, covering policy, economics, energy, markets, and managing energy policy and economics.
Energy Storage Systems
Examines energy storage systems, covering storage, batteries, systems, conversion, and managing energy storage systems and technology.
Sustainable Energy Engineering
Covers sustainable energy engineering, covering sustainability, energy, engineering, systems, and managing sustainable energy systems and engineering.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Renewable Energy and Technology programme combines lectures, laboratory sessions, fieldwork, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover solar energy, wind energy, biomass, energy storage, and energy policy. Solar energy sessions examine solar, photovoltaic, thermal, systems, and managing solar energy systems. Wind energy sessions cover wind, turbines, systems, design, and managing wind energy systems. Biomass sessions cover biomass, bioenergy, conversion, systems, and managing biomass and bioenergy systems. Energy storage sessions cover storage, batteries, systems, conversion, and managing energy storage systems. Energy policy sessions cover policy, economics, energy, markets, and managing energy policy and economics. Environmental impact sessions cover environment, impact, energy, assessment, and managing environmental impact of energy systems. Modelling sessions cover modelling, simulation, energy, systems, and managing energy systems modelling and simulation. Research methods sessions cover research, methods, energy, design, and conducting research in energy technology. Laboratory sessions provide practical experience in energy system testing, photovoltaic characterisation, and wind tunnel experiments. Fieldwork provides practical experience in visiting renewable energy installations and assessing energy systems. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a renewable energy technology topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme addresses Kenya's growing renewable energy sector, including geothermal, solar, and wind energy.
Programme offered at multiple public universities with different fee options.
Graduates are eligible for EPRA professional certification and IRENA membership.
DAAD scholarships available for JKUAT energy programmes.

Against it

Fees are relatively high, ranging from KES 408,000 to KES 413,000 per year.
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Programme requires strong background in engineering, physics, or energy science.
Programme may require access to specialised laboratory and field equipment.

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 408k

207k 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 413,000/2yr=206,500/yr. KU 408,000/yr (ku.ac.ke). No private.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. DAAD scholarships are available for JKUAT energy programmes. IRENA and international energy organisations may offer scholarships and fellowships for renewable energy research.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
DAAD Scholarship
IRENA Scholarship

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
DAAD Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 413,000
DAAD scholarships available for JKUAT energy programmes for eligible students.
IRENA Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 300,000
IRENA and international energy organisations may offer scholarships for renewable energy research.

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 at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in a relevant field. Lower Second Class may be considered with relevant work experience. 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, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering renewable energy technologies, energy systems, energy policy, and environmental impact.
Laboratory and Field Assessment
Project40% of the mark
Practical assessment through laboratory work and field visits, demonstrating energy system testing, analysis, and assessment skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a renewable energy technology topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and energy technology knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Kenyatta University, JKUAT, and Multimedia University of Kenya (all public) offer MSc in Renewable Energy and Technology or closely related programmes. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in renewable energy technology. Graduates may interact with EPRA for energy regulation standards and IRENA for international renewable energy standards. The programme aligns with IEA and IRENA global energy frameworks.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Kenyatta University, JKUAT, and Multimedia University of Kenya (all public) offer MSc in Renewable Energy and Technology or closely related programmes. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in renewable energy technology. Graduates may interact with EPRA for energy regulation standards and IRENA for international renewable energy standards. The programme aligns with IEA and IRENA global energy frameworks.

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 500,000
Designs and manages renewable energy systems, overseeing solar, wind, biomass, and managing renewable energy engineering projects.
Energy Consultant
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 450,000
Provides energy consulting services, covering advisory, energy, efficiency, and managing energy consulting and advisory.
Energy Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 450,000
Analyses energy policy, covering policy, energy, analysis, research, and managing energy policy analysis.
Energy Project Manager
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages energy projects, covering projects, energy, management, and managing renewable energy project management.
Energy Research Scientist
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 450,000
Conducts energy research, covering research, energy, technology, and managing energy research and development.
Energy Technology Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Teaches renewable 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

MATLAB
SoftwarePrimary
MATLAB for energy systems modelling and simulation, covering modelling, simulation, energy, and managing energy systems modelling.
PVsyst
Software
PVsyst for solar energy system design and simulation, covering solar, photovoltaic, design, and managing solar energy system design.
HOMER Energy
Software
HOMER for hybrid renewable energy system optimisation, covering optimisation, energy, systems, and managing hybrid energy system design.
Python
Software
Python for energy data analysis and modelling, covering computing, analysis, energy, and managing energy data analysis.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Renewable energy technology is just about solar panels.
Renewable energy technology covers solar, wind, biomass, hydropower, geothermal, energy storage, and energy systems design beyond just solar panels.
This programme is only for engineers.
Renewable energy technology is for professionals from physics, environmental science, energy economics, and policy backgrounds, not just engineers.
Renewable energy has limited career prospects in Kenya.
Kenya is a leader in renewable energy in Africa with growing demand for skilled professionals in geothermal, solar, and wind energy sectors.
Renewable energy is too expensive to be practical.
Renewable energy costs have decreased significantly, making it competitive with and often cheaper than fossil fuels in many contexts.
This programme is only about technology, not policy.
The programme covers energy policy, economics, environmental impact, and regulatory frameworks alongside technology.
Renewable energy cannot provide reliable power.
Modern renewable energy systems with storage and grid integration can provide reliable, continuous power supply.