Kenyan Postgraduate Student Wins Renewable Energy Prize at University of Dundee

A Kenyan postgraduate student, Sharon Jelagat Kitony, is honoured at the University of Dundee as the recipient of this year's Gneiss Energy Prize for Renewable Transition. 

The award recognises her outstanding academic contribution to renewable energy policy, specifically for her dissertation exploring decarbonisation strategies within Kenya. Kitony, a student at the university's School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, earned the accolade for her thesis, entitled "Decarbonising Kenya's Energy Sector: Long-Term Policy Scenarios for a Sustainable Future Using the OSeMOSYS--MAED Soft-Linking Approach." 

Her research provides a significant contribution to global efforts in sustainable development. Kitony's research employs a hybrid modelling method to evaluate Kenya's policy options for a low-carbon energy transition. She models four scenarios, energy efficiency, carbon pricing, carbon caps, and electrification, offering decision-makers a detailed roadmap for balancing climate objectives with economic imperatives. 

This framework allows for a comprehensive evaluation of the potential impacts and trade-offs associated with each policy option. Professor Xiaoyi (Shawn) Mu, Director of the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP), remarks, "Her work embodies the innovative leadership that the Gneiss Energy Prize seeks to promote." 

The annual prize, awarded by Gneiss Energy in collaboration with CEPMLP, recognises scholarly work that demonstrates both academic excellence and practical applicability. Kitony's thesis addresses the critical issue of energy equity in developing economies. Her analysis demonstrates that clean cooking solutions and electrification must be integrated into carbon mitigation strategies to foster an inclusive energy system. 

The research quantifies how these elements influence emissions and energy access, positioning Kenya's path to sustainability as both environmentally sound and socially equitable. Currently undertaking an internship with the United Nations in Bonn, Germany, Kitony is expanding her involvement in global climate policy discourse. 

Fluent in English, Swahili, and Mandarin, her academic trajectory reflects an international perspective and a commitment to addressing global challenges. Kitony credits her academic advisers, including Dr Wattala Rohan Fernando and OSeMOSYS expert Fernando Plazas-Niño, for their mentorship. 

"This achievement would not have been possible without the invaluable guidance of my supervisor and the unwavering support of our School," she states.

Established in 2022 by University of Dundee alumnus Jon Fitzpatrick, the Gneiss Energy Prize aims to reward innovation in the transition to renewable energy. Fitzpatrick, now executive chairman of the energy advisory firm Gneiss Energy, praises Kitony as "a truly deserving winner," applauding her resilience and scholarly precision.