A Masters student from Kenya has won this year’s Gneiss Energy Prize for Renewables Transition at the University of Dundee’s Law School.
Sharon Kitony was awarded the prestigious prize for her MSc thesis which examined the critical role that clean cooking, electrification and carbon pricing will play in shaping a low-emission energy future for Kenya.
The award recognises the best student thesis for the MSc Sustainability: Renewables Transition course delivered by the university’s world-leading Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP).
The prize was established in 2022 (?) by Dundee Law School alumnus Jon Fitzpatrick in recognition of the pivotal role the university has played in his own career. Its name comes from the energy advisory firm Gneiss Energy which Jon founded in 2016.
Sharon’s dissertation utilised a sophisticated modelling approach to explore Kenya’s energy transition under four long-term policy scenarios, and delivered actionable insights for policymakers to design sustainable, inclusive and economically viable energy strategies.
Sharon, who is fluent in in English, Swahili, and Mandarin, is passionate about decarbonising energy and has now moved on from the university to complete an internship with the United Nations in Bonn, Germany.
Commenting on the award Sharon said:
“This milestone would not have been possible without the incredible guidance of my supervisor and Head of our School, for their tremendous encouragement.
“I am deeply grateful to the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy for recognizing my work and deciding to honour me with this award, and my deepest gratitude goes to Gneiss Energy for their generous donation and support.
“Their acknowledgement is a testament to the value of my research in the field of Renewable Energy.
