Student Theses in Energy Systems Drive Global Sustainability and Local Innovation

Whether addressing pressing energy transformation issues in the Global South or exploring circular economy solutions in Swedish cities, each project leaves an impact. Below, we showcase examples of outstanding student achievements that highlight the diverse and transformative work carried out within our division. If you're seeking an inspiring thesis topic, explore our suggestions or bring your own idea—we'll match you with an expert supervisor to support your research journey every step of the way. We work closely with partners on the ground to help students out with their fieldwork and data collection.

Looking for a thesis topic or curious about what other students have worked on over the years? Check out more information at www.energy.kth.se/energy-systems/master-thesis

Rahel Zeru's

Rahel Zeru, an MSc graduate studen, recently defended her outstanding thesis conducted with the Energy Systems Division. Her work, supported by a Sida-funded KTH field study grant, focused on the role of circular economy in urban transitions, with a case study of Nairobi.

Through fieldwork and stakeholder engagement, Rahel explored how indicator-based assessments can monitor circularity at the city level. She highlighted the challenges in Kenya, such as the lack of systematic data collection and circular economy indicators, drawing on literature reviews and stakeholder interviews. This research, supported by KTH's strategic office in Nairobi, underscores the critical need for context-specific, evidence-based approaches to sustainable urban transitions.

Rahel’s work demonstrates the importance of Swedish funding for global development and will now inform future research and policy in Nairobi. Congratulations to Rahel for navigating challenges with excellence and contributing valuable insights to the field. Special thank you to Romanus Opiyo  from the SEI Headquaters in Nairobi for supporting and guiding Rahel during her stay in Nairobi.

Rahel thesis will be available soon.

Allyson Steffany Botett Díaz

In her study, Allyson explored pathways for the rural Indigenous community of Rioblanco, Colombia, to achieve energy independence and sustainability through renewable energy systems. Guided by the exceptional supervision of Camilo, Allyson utilised CLEWs modeling, OSeMOSYS, and GeoCLEWs to demonstrate that transitioning to local renewable energy could reduce electricity costs by over 50% by 2050 while delivering significant socioeconomic benefits. She concludes that while the findings are promising, future research must address land-use conflicts and water stress that are of particular challenge to the community to ensure comprehensive and sustainable resource management.

Allyson’s work represents not only a personal academic achievement but also a meaningful contribution to our ongoing collaboration with the University of Cauca in Colombia. A special thanks to Jaime Rafael Obando Ante  for providing this opportunity, introducing us at the Energy Systems Division to the community and making this work possible. It is inspiring to see that the community of Rioblanco might use the results of Allyson’s thesis—an impactful example of how academic research translates into real-world change.  

Allyson's thesis is available at kth.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A1907968&dswid=-8066