MSc Renewable Energy Engineering

Overview

MSc Renewable Energy Engineering is a specialist course in the rapidly expanding sector, which approaches the subject with a clear engineering focus.

The course is aimed at students wishing to develop critical understanding of the significant changes afoot in the energy system due to the development and integration of wind, marine, biomass and solar technologies. The course will enable graduates to develop and implement creative solutions to the problems encountered in renewable energy capture, conversion, storage and management.

Students will gain the knowledge and skills to assess renewable energy resources, design appropriate renewable energy systems, evaluate the performance of these systems and assess the wider impacts of renewable energy development. The programme provides introductory courses to fundamental energy science and current energy issues, while the project-led courses focus on the design of renewable energy systems. The degree concludes with a research-led dissertation in the summer.

Opportunities for practical learning

Heriot-Watt University's Edinburgh Campus is home to fantastic facilities for a range of engineering disciplines. Students on MSc Renewable Energy Engineering can benefit from lab facilities such as a solar test site, a solar simulator, a test wind tunnel and IT Labs for advanced simulations. Students may also gain practical experience working with one of our industry partners as part of their dissertation project.

Number 1 for engineering research

96% of Heriot-Watt University's engineering research was classed as world-leading in the REF 2021 review, which ranked us 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK for engineering research through a joint submission with the University of Edinburgh.

The Institute of Mechanical, Process and Energy Engineering promotes excellence across its main research themes: Biomedical Engineering, Energy Harvesting and Conversion, Multiphase Flow and Digital Engineering. Heriot-Watt University is the leader amongst UK universities in promoting energy activities through its 'Energy Academy', a virtual centre which connects all energy-related research across the University.

Renewable energy research focuses on six main areas:

• Photovoltaics and Solar Energy
• Wind and Marine Energy
• Renewable Energy Systems
• Minimising CO2 Emissions
• Biofuels
• Wind and Marine Energy

Learning aims: MSc Renewable Energy Engineering

The aims of the degree are to enable the students to:

• develop detailed knowledge and critical understanding of the core skills in renewable energy resources, converters and systems
• develop and use a significant range of principal and specialist skills, techniques and practices in renewable energy
• be able to apply this knowledge directly to complex applications
• critically review existing practice and develop original and creative solutions to problems within the domain
• communicate and work effectively with peers and academic staff in a variety of tasks, demonstrating appropriate levels of autonomy and responsibility, and
• plan and execute a significant project of research, investigation or development in a specialist area within the renewable energy arena, demonstrating extensive, detailed and critical understanding of that specialism.

Programme duration

• One year (MSc)
• 9 months (Diploma)

Watch: Interviews with our students

Watch videos of the MSc in Renewable Energy Engineering being discussed by:

• Academic Nick Bennett 
• Student Edwin Acosta 
• Student Peter Szabo

September 2024 entry

The deadline for applications from UK students is 30 August 2024. For EU and overseas applicants, we guarantee to consider applications submitted by 2 August 2024.