Study Renewable Energy at Cranfield
Develop a successful career in renewable energy. This MSc will equip you with the advanced knowledge and skills to develop a successful career in the rapidly growing renewable energy sector. A choice of study routes enables you to specialise in developing the state-of-the-art technical skills required to design renewable energy systems, or to focus on managing renewable engineering projects and systems. Ranked in the UK top 5 for mechanical engineering, Cranfield offers a unique, postgraduate-only environment, unique engineering-scale facilities for the development of efficient renewable energy technologies with low CO2 emissions and a teaching team with extensive experience of solving real world renewable energy challenges.Overview
- Start dateFull-time: October, part-time: October
- DurationOne year full-time, two-three years part-time
- DeliveryTaught modules 40%, group project 20% (or dissertation for part-time students), and individual project 40%
- QualificationMSc, PgDip, PgCert
- Study typeFull-time / Part-time
- CampusCranfield campus
Who is it for?
This course is designed for engineering, maths or science graduates who wish to develop a successful and rewarding career in the renewable energy sector. It will equip you with the multidisciplinary skills required to design, optimise and evaluate the technical and economic viability of renewable energy schemes. The engineering route will provide you with the state-of-the-art technical skills required to design renewable energy systems, including finite element analysis (FEA), computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and technology lifecycle management (TLM). Alternatively, you can specialise in managing renewable energy projects and systems, focusing on topics such as health and safety and environment; energy entrepreneurship and asset management.
Your career
With the current global focus on developing low carbon energy production and renewable energy technologies, you can expect to be highly sought after by employers. Equipped with the expertise to analyse current and future energy needs and to design and implement appropriate solutions, a wide range of careers are open to you, as a professional scientist or engineer across the full breadth of industrial and public sector organisations involved in renewable energy.
For example, on completion of the course, our students have been employed by organisations such as E.ON, Vestas, Vattenfall, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, ABB, Scottish Renewables, EDF and Iberdrola.
In their new careers, our graduates have worked work on a diverse and exciting range of renewable energy projects, including:
- Design of new renewable energy solutions,
- Testing and certification of renewable energy technologies,
- Operation and maintenance of renewable energy technologies,
- Technical-environmental analysis of novel renewable energy solutions, such as floating wind turbines and wave energy converters.
Cranfield Careers Service
Cranfield’s Careers Service is dedicated to helping you meet your career aspirations. You will have access to career coaching and advice, CV development, interview practice, access to hundreds of available jobs via our Symplicity platform and opportunities to meet recruiting employers at our careers fairs. We will also work with you to identify suitable opportunities and support you in the job application process for up to three years after graduation.
Why this course?
Governments around the world are establishing increasingly ambitious targets for renewable energy use. For example, by 2030 China plans to increase the share of non-fossil fuels in its total energy mix to 20% and Europe to 30%. The Renewable Energy MSc will prepare you for an exciting and rewarding career helping to address the global challenge of moving to a low carbon economy.
- Study at a top 5 ranked UK university for mechanical, aeronautical and manufacturing engineering.
- Choose to acquire the technical skills required to design renewable energy systems, or focus on developing the capability to manage renewable engineering projects and systems.
- Participate in individual and group projects focused on your personal interests and career aspirations.
- Learn from lecturers with extensive, current experience of working with industry on solving real world energy challenges
- Benefit from engineering-scale facilities for the development of efficient technologies with low CO2 emissions.
This MSc is supported by our team of professorial thought leaders, including Professor Chris Sansom, who is influential in the field of renewable energy, and an integral part of this MSc. Read more about how Chris came to Cranfield and his involvement in some globally significant projects.
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"I chose Cranfield for its heritage, the technology they have developed over the years is impressive and I have a lot of friends that have studied here so they gave a pretty good recommendation. Cranfield is also very good in the rankings. In my field specifically in renewable energy it's very well positioned. I've seen alumni working in companies like Tesla and Vestas, huge companies that are making a difference and that's what I want to do."
Xavier Lebrija, Renewable Energy MSc 2018
Informed by industry
The Renewable Energy MSc is closely aligned with industry to ensure that you are fully prepared for your new career.
- Cranfield’s long-standing strategic partnerships with prominent players in the energy sector ensures that the course content meets the needs of global employers in the renewable energy sector.
- The teaching team are heavily involved in industrially-funded research and development, enabling you to benefit from real-world case studies throughout the course.
- An industrial advisory board for the course scrutinises course content and ensures its relevance to the needs of global employers.
- State-of-the-art technical modules cover a range of industry-relevant topics including Renewable Engineering Technologies, Engineering Stress Analysis: Theory and Simulations, Fluid Mechanics and Loading, Design of Offshore Energy Structures.
- Management modules cover essential industry relevant topics including Energy Entrepreneurship, Energy Economics and Policy and Sustainability and Environmental Assessment.
Course details
The taught programme for the Renewable Energy MSc comprises eight modules, and is generally delivered from October to February. The modules are delivered over one week of intensive delivery with a second week being free from structured teaching to allow time for more independent learning and reflection. Students on the part-time programme will complete all of the modules based on a flexible schedule that will be agreed with the Course Director.
Course delivery
Taught modules 40%, group project 20% (or dissertation for part-time students), and individual project 40%
Group project
The group project is an applied, multidisciplinary, team-based activity. Often solving real-world, industry-based problems, you and your fellow students will have the opportunity to take responsibility for a consultancy-type project while working under academic supervision. The group project is highly valued by employers for developing your ability to work within agreed objectives, deadlines and budgets, whilst developing transferable skills such as team work, self-reflection and effective communication.
Recent group projects include:
Individual project
Selected in consultation with the Thesis Co-ordinator and Course Director, the individual project offers the opportunity for you to focus on an area of particular interest and of direct relevance to your career aspirations. It will enable you to develop independent research skills, to think and work in an original way, contribute to knowledge and overcome real-world problems – particularly as many of the projects are supported by external organisations.
Recent individual projects include:
- Modelling, structural analysis, and optimisation of a 10 metre solar concentrating mirror array for industrial process heat applications,
- Pollution modelling and mitigation strategies through renewable energy technologies in Mexico City,
- Floating offshore wind turbines and support foundations in ultra deep waters,
- CFD study of a ducted wind turbine,
- Design characterisation of a horizontal plate wave energy converter,
- Fatigue damage analysis of offshore wind monopolies.
Modules
Keeping our courses up-to-date and current requires constant innovation and change. The modules we offer reflect the needs of business and industry and the research interests of our staff and, as a result, may change or be withdrawn due to research developments, legislation changes or for a variety of other reasons. Changes may also be designed to improve the student learning experience or to respond to feedback from students, external examiners, accreditation bodies and industrial advisory panels.
To give you a taster, we have listed the compulsory and elective (where applicable) modules which are currently affiliated with this course. All modules are indicative only, and may be subject to change for your year of entry.
Course modules
Engineering route compulsory modules
Renewable Energy Technologies 1
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Aim |
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Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Fluid Mechanics and Loading
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Aim |
This module aims to provide you with a theoretical and applied understanding of fluid mechanics and fluid loading on structures. |
Syllabus |
Principles of fluid dynamics: Dynamics of floating bodies: from simple hydrostatics to complex dynamic response in waves. |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Engineering Stress Analysis: Theory and Simulations
Module Leader |
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Aim |
This module brings together theoretical and computational stress analysis through finite element simulations, allowing you to appreciate how the two disciplines interact in practice and what their strengths and limitations are. The examination of finite element analysis (FEA) for various practical applications (e.g. engineering components, composite structures, rotating disks, cracked geometries) in conjunction with relevant case studies will allow you to combine theoretical understanding with practical experience, to develop your skills to model and analyse complex engineering problems. |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Renewable Energy Technologies 2
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Aim |
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Syllabus |
Energy storage materials and technologies Bioenergies Energy distribution Energy harvesting |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Solar Energy Engineering
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Aim |
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Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Design of Offshore Energy Structures
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Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Energy Entrepreneurship
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Aim |
In this world of downsizing, restructuring and technological change, notions of traditional careers and ways of creating value have all been challenged. People are depending more upon their own initiative to realise success. Never, it seems, have more people been starting their own companies than now, particularly to exploit the World Wide Web. There’s no single Government (in either the developed or the developing world), which is not paying at least lip service to enterprise development. The aim of this module is to provide you with knowledge and skills relevant for starting and managing new ventures across the entrepreneurial life cycle. Moreover, it will prepare you on how to prepare a business pitch to an investor. |
Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Energy Systems Case Studies
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Aim |
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Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to:
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Management route compulsory modules
Renewable Energy Technologies 1
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Aim |
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Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Research Methods and Project Management
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Syllabus |
Research methods: Project management: Ethics and the role of the engineer: Professional code of conduct (in line with the code of conduct defined by the Engineering Council, IMechE, IChemE and Energy Institute). |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Energy Economics and Policy
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Aim |
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Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Renewable Energy Technologies 2
Module Leader |
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Aim |
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Syllabus |
Energy storage materials and technologies Bioenergies Energy distribution Energy harvesting |
Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Sustainability and Environmental Assessment
Module Leader |
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Aim |
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Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Health Safety Sustainability and Environment
Module Leader |
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Aim |
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Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Energy Entrepreneurship
Module Leader |
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Aim |
In this world of downsizing, restructuring and technological change, notions of traditional careers and ways of creating value have all been challenged. People are depending more upon their own initiative to realise success. Never, it seems, have more people been starting their own companies than now, particularly to exploit the World Wide Web. There’s no single Government (in either the developed or the developing world), which is not paying at least lip service to enterprise development. The aim of this module is to provide you with knowledge and skills relevant for starting and managing new ventures across the entrepreneurial life cycle. Moreover, it will prepare you on how to prepare a business pitch to an investor. |
Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
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Energy Systems Case Studies
Module Leader |
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Aim |
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Syllabus |
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Intended learning outcomes |
On successful completion of this module a student should be able to:
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Teaching team
You will be taught by industry-active research academics from Cranfield with an established track record, supported by visiting lecturers from industry. The Admissions Tutors are Dr Ali Mehmanparast and Dr Jerry Luo, and the Course Director is Dr Mounia Karim.
Accreditation
This MSc degree is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and The Energy Institute
How to apply
Online application form. UK students are normally expected to attend an interview and financial support is best discussed at this time. Overseas and EU students may be interviewed by telephone.