Master of Science - Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition

This interdisciplinary masters degree is ideal for professionals looking to become leaders in realising energy transition. The course is delivered by experts in renewable energy, economics and transition engineering at the International Centre for Islands Technology (ICIT) in Stromness, Heriot-Watt University’s Orkney campus. The learning environment is enhanced by the action research group, the Transition Lab, in the Islands Centre for Net Zero (ICNZ). ICNZ is a partnership led by the Orkney-based European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) working closely alongside the leading academics and a range of other business and community organisations across the Scottish Islands of Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides. Collectively, current ground-breaking research is helping to navigate the challenges humans face and making progress in the development and delivery of new renewable and sustainable energy supply and end-use systems.

This course focuses on the key drivers of the exciting new and growing field of energy transition and transition engineering:

• Policy and economics of net zero carbon • Renewable energy technologies, development processes and grid integration • Energy transition in transport, primary production, construction and manufacturing • Action for climate change through organisation, enterprise and technical shift • Transition engineering in the broadest sense of figuring out how to build sustainable change through decarbonisation projects

The graduates gain skills across renewable energy technology, integration and development, and the processes of creating and leading just transitions for enterprises, organisations and communities. The course addresses the needs of multiple circular economy sectors such as renewable energy developers, communities and organisations under pressure to meet net zero targets and address climate change. Teaching is reinforced with project work where emphasis is placed on simulating real-life situations and processes. Students learn how to use key communication platforms including digital tools for data analysis, modelling and other interactive approaches.