Study Sustainable Energy at Otago

With a qualification in Sustainable Energy, you’ll gain the technical knowledge and problem-solving skills to reduce carbon emissions and guide critical decision-making in the energy sector.

Why study Sustainable Energy?

Cutting carbon emissions from fossil fuels is crucial if we want to avoid the worst effects of climate change. The world needs cleaner, more sustainable ways to generate power and this programme will equip you with the knowledge and skills to drive change.

You’ll delve into the science behind renewable energy, energy efficiency and carbon reduction. You’ll gain a deep understanding of a range of renewable and non-renewable energy resources and develop the key skills required for energy analysis in industrial and commercial settings.

We cover a variety of sustainable energy topics in our courses, meaning you could dive into projects as diverse as energy-efficient housing, heat pump technology, generating energy from waste, identifying energy saving opportunities on campus, designing renewable energy installations, and assessing the potential for solar energy in university flats.

Career opportunities

Our graduates are in high demand! They go on to exciting, high-paying, meaningful careers across a range of industries:

• Designing and implementing renewable energy technologies.
• Identifying and implementing energy efficiency and carbon reduction measures at industrial sites and commercial buildings.
• Developing energy and sustainability plans for government departments.

How you will learn

You’ll learn through a mixture of lectures, hands-on labs and practical fieldwork. You’ll perform energy audits of commercial and industrial sites, including breweries and large manufacturing plants, where you’ll analyse energy use and make recommendations for reducing energy and greenhouse gas emissions.

In labs, you’ll work with other students to explore renewable energy technologies and model complex, off-grid energy systems.

Recommended high school subjects for undergraduate study

You’ll need a solid grounding in maths and physics and a deep interest in the environment and climate change. NCEA level 3 mathematics with calculus is ideal preparation, NCEA level 3 physics is recommended.

Choose a study option

Whether you're embarking on your academic journey with our comprehensive undergraduate programmes or aiming to reach new heights through our advanced postgraduate offerings, Otago is here to support your aspirations.

Undergraduate qualifications

For new and current students studying towards a Bachelor's or other first degree. Explore undergraduate qualifications at Otago, designed to build a strong foundation in your chosen field, preparing you for a successful career or further study.

Note: this subject can also be studied as a minor.

Bachelor of Science (BSc)

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A three-year degree offering flexibility to explore a major in Science along with other subjects

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Further study opportunities

Whether you are looking to bridge your undergraduate studies to advanced knowledge or aiming to specialise in a specific field, Otago offers a range of graduate and postgraduate options to suit your aspirations.

Postgraduate study in Sustainable Energy

Advance your knowledge and understanding of Sustainable Energy at Otago.

The papers were interesting, the staff were supportive, and Dunedin itself is a glorious place to live and study. I particularly appreciated the hands-on learning opportunities – tutorials and laboratory sessions were essential throughout my undergraduate degree. They provided practical experience and allowed time for discussion and reflection

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Rafferty Parker

Master of Science (Energy Science and Technology), Postgraduate Diploma in Science (Energy Studies), Bachelor of Applied Science (Major: Energy Management, Minor: Mathematics)

Related subject areas

Explore all subject areas

Engineering, land surveying and urban design

Shape the world with innovative solutions and modern technology – designing spaces where people live and flourish

Environment, climate change and sustainability

Find creative solutions to the challenges posed by climate change and other environmental issues

Physical sciences

Answer fundamental questions about nature and the universe and provide solutions by studying the world around us

Uniquely Otago

Learn more about programmes, qualifications, or outstanding facilities that you won't find elsewhere in Aotearoa

From lab to low-carbon future

You study Sustainable Energy at Otago in an environment built for hands-on exploration and forward thinking.

During your studies, you gain access to a wide range of high-tech laboratory facilities and specialist equipment. These include climate chambers used to test heat pump and dehumidifier technologies, a femtosecond laser machining facility, and detailed models of the New Zealand energy and electricity system that let you explore future energy scenarios.

Teaching is led by experts actively shaping the field of energy system sustainability, bringing current research directly into your learning. Our staff have secured competitive research funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) for projects including energy-efficient buildings, hydrogen storage, and next-generation heat exchanger technology. Additional support comes from Energy Education Trust funding for waste-to-energy research and industry collaboration funding.

Programme details

Compare programmes for this subject.

Bachelor of Science (BSc) majoring in Sustainable Energy

Year	Papers	Points
100-level	One 100-level PHSI paper (PHSI 132 Fundamentals of Physics II recommended)	18
	MATH 130 Fundamentals of Modern Mathematics 1	18
	MATH 140 Fundamentals of Modern Mathematics 2	18
200-level	ENRG 201 Engineering Thermodynamics I	18
	ENRG 204 Renewable Energy Technologies	18
	PHSI 243 Environmental Physics	18
	(MATH 203 Calculus of Several Variables recommended)
300-level	ENRG 301 Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer	18
	ENRG 308 Engineering Thermodynamics II	18
	Two papers from 300-level PHSI, CHEM 301, 302, 303, 305, 306 , MATH 304, COMO 303, INFO 304, GEOL 363, GEOL 376, GEOG 388 , 389, 392, 397, PMAN 401 , FINC 302-310, MANT 303, ENVI 312, BIOC 351 (PHSI 365 and PHSI 381 recommended) Notes: (i) Students should check the prerequisites for 300-level papers when selecting 200-level papers.  (ii) INFO 304 will be offered up to the end of 2027 and replaced in 2028 with DATA 301.	36
Plus	180 further points. Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Science.	180
Total		360

Sustainable Energy as a minor

A minor subject can be included in many of our undergraduate degrees. To earn a minor, you typically must complete a minimum of 90 points in that subject, with at least 18 points at the 300-level.

Your minor can be a subject more commonly taken for a different degree. For example, a BCom majoring in Marketing can include Japanese as a minor subject. To include this subject as a minor in your application, first find a major subject through our Subject Search or Study Match.

You can check what’s required to receive the minor accreditation in the programme details below.

Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), or Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree

Year	Papers	Points
100-level	One 100-level PHSI paper (PHSI 132 Fundamentals of Physics II recommended)	18
	MATH 130 Fundamentals of Modern Mathematics 1	18
	MATH 140 Fundamentals of Modern Mathematics 2	18
200-level	ENRG 201 Engineering Thermodynamics I	18
	ENRG 204 Renewable Energy Technologies	18
300-level	ENRG 301 Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer or ENRG 308 Engineering Thermodynamics II	18
	Note: Students who have passed at least one 100-level PHSI paper as part of another subject's requirements do not need to pass another one of these papers to fulfil the Sustainable Energy requirements
Total		108

Papers

View a list of all related papers below.

Papers

ENRG papers

Paper Code	Year	Title	Points	Teaching period
ENRG201	2026	Engineering Thermodynamics I	18 points	Semester 1
ENRG204	2026	Renewable Energy Technologies	18 points	Semester 2
ENRG301	2026	Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer	18 points	Semester 1
ENRG308	2026	Engineering Thermodynamics II	18 points	Semester 2
ENRG310	2026	Special Topic	18 points	Not offered in 2026
ENRG401	2026	Applied Engineering Thermodynamics	20 points	Semester 1
ENRG402	2026	Process Optimisation	20 points	Semester 1
ENRG403	2026	Linear Systems and Control Theory	20 points	Semester 2
ENRG404	2026	Advanced Energy Resources	20 points	Semester 2
ENRG405	2026	Energy Practice	20 points	Semester 1
ENRG410	2026	Energy Policy	20 points	Not offered in 2026, expected to be offered in 2029
ENRG490	2026	Dissertation	60 points	Semester 1, Full Year, 1st Non standard period (13 July 2026 - 16 June 2027)

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