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Biography
Dr. Peter Makolo is a distinguished lecturer and researcher in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Dar es Salaam, with over 17 years of experience in research, teaching, consultancy, and industry engagement within Electrical Power Engineering. Holding a Ph.D. from Auckland University of Technology (2022), an MSc from Chalmers University of Technology (2013), and a BSc (Hons.) from the University of Dar es Salaam (2008), he specializes in power system dynamics, renewable energy integration, and grid flexibility. Dr. Makolo has an impressive publication record, including 10 peer-reviewed journal articles and 8 conference proceedings, and has secured significant research funding, such as the New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarship and a Spanish government grant for energy storage solutions. Recognized as the Distinguished Researcher of the Year (2025) at the College of Engineering and Technology, he is also actively involved in curriculum development, student mentorship, and professional training, while maintaining memberships with the Engineers Registration Board and the Institute of Engineers Tanzania. His technical expertise in tools like MATLAB, Simulink, and DIgSILENT PowerFactory, combined with his leadership in projects like the FAIR AEI TED and his contributions to sustainable energy initiatives, underscores his commitment to advancing academic excellence and fostering innovative solutions for modern power systems.
Research Interest
Dr. Peter Makolo’s research interests focus on advancing power system technologies, with emphasis on grid integration of renewable energy and energy storage systems, virtual/synthetic inertia, parameter estimation and forecasting in power systems, power quality, power system operation and dynamics, operating constraints for power pools, resilience, intelligent grid control, planning, and protection.
Contacts
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Projects
Team Leader: GreenRide: Electric Skateboarding for a Cleaner Tanzania
An e-mobility project aiming at reducing fuel costs, mitigating environmental impact, and providing accessible transportation in Tanzania.
Team Member: Sustainable Energy Futures for Tanzania Report. Client: Society for International Development (SID) 2024 – 2025.
Team Member: e-waste Management for Sustainable e-Cooking in Tanzania. Client: Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS), 2024 – 2025.
Team Member: Investigation of a Frequently Failing 750 kW, 1000 V Variable Speed Drive (VSD) Installed at Geita Gold Mine – Underground Facility. Client: Geita Gold Mine Limited, 2025.
Team Member: Control of Storage Systems for the Provision of Ancillary Services to the MV/HV Distribution/Transmission Network, in the Project Titled: Solutions for Rapid Response and Network Support through Storage Systems with Grid-Forming Capabilities in Networks. Code: TED2021-129796B-C22, Financed by the Government of Spain, Jan. 2023 – July 2024.
Team Leader: Survey on Energy Demand for Formulation of Power System Master Plan in Dar es Salaam and Review of Power System Master Plan 2012/2013-15, Surveyed in: Southern Upland Zone Regions, Client: YEC JAPAN & TANESCO, Sept. – Dec., 2015,
Publications
P. Mkoi, P. Makolo, F. Mwasilu, “Synthetic Inertia Provision for Load Frequency Control in Networks with High Penetration of Renewable Energy Sources,” Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology, vol. 44, no. 1, pp. 245–256, 2025.
P. Makolo, M. Cheah-Mañe, O. Gomis-Bellmunt, “Quantification of virtual inertia from derivative control using a recursive least square with a weighted forgetting method,” Electric Power Systems Research, vol. 241, 2025.
D. A. Kisinga, P. Makolo, P. Trodden, “A modified synchronverter for a weak grid with virtual power circles‐based PQ decoupling scheme, “IET Renewable Power Generation, vol. 18, no. 14, pp. 2723–2736, 2024.
P. Makolo, F. Mwasilu, R. Zamora, T. T. Lie, “Long-Range Inertia Prediction Considering Contemporary Evolution of Power Grid Networks,” Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology, vol. 43, no. 4, pp. 1–21, 2024.
P. Makolo, R. Zamora, U. Perera, and T. T. Lie, “Flexible Synthetic Inertia Optimization in Modern Power Systems,” Inventions, vol. 9, no. 1, p. 18, 2024.
I. Oladeji, P. Makolo, R. Zamora, T. Lie, “Density-based clustering and probabilistic classification for integrated transmission-distribution network security state prediction”, Electric Power Systems Research, vol. 211, pp. 0378-7796, 2022.
P. Makolo, R. Zamora, and T.-T. Lie, "The role of inertia for grid flexibility under high penetration of variable renewables-A review of challenges and solutions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 147, pp. 111223, 2021.
P. Makolo, I. Oladeji, R. Zamora, and T.-T. Lie, "Data-driven inertia estimation based on frequency gradient for power systems with high penetration of renewable energy sources," Electric Power Systems Research, vol. 195, pp. 107171, 2021.
P. Makolo, R. Zamora, and T. Lie, "Online inertia estimation for power systems with high penetration of RES using recursive parameters estimation," IET Renewable Power Generation, vol. 15, no. 12, pp. 2571-2585, 2021.
Oladeji, I.; Makolo, P.; Abdillah, M.; Shi, J.; Zamora, R. “Security Impacts Assessment of Active Distribution Network on the Modern Grid Operation—A Review”, Electronics, vol. 10, no. 6, pp. 2040, 2021.
J.J. Justo, G. Demidova, D. Lukichev, N. Poliakov, P. Makolo, R.C. Bansal, “Synthesis of Dynamic Virtual-Inertia for Microgrid System Applications,” 2025 International Conference on Intelligent Control, Computing and Communications (IC3), vol. 2025 pp. 177-182, 2025, Mathura, India.
C. Gómez-Aleixandre, Ó. Pasarín, P. Makolo, M. Cheah-Mane, M. González-Antuña, Á. Navarro-Rodríguez, C. Blanco, P. García, O. Gomis-Bellmunt, “Co-simulation and small-signal analysis tool for multiple DER integration studies,” CIRED Chicago Workshop 2024; IET Conference Proceedings CP882, vol. 2024 (27) pp. 295-299, 2024, Chicago, USA.
A. Khazali, R. Torkzadeh, H.R. Chamorro, P. Makolo, V.K. Sood, R. Zamora, “Power/Hydrogen Optimal Stochastic Scheduling Considering Frequency Regulation Markets” International Conference on Smart Systems and Technologies (SST), 2022, pp 21-25, Osijek, Croatia.
D.A. Kisinga, P. Makolo, P. Trodden, “A Neural Network-based Online Estimation of Stochastic Inertia in a Power System” IEEE PES/IAS PowerAfrica, 2022: pp 1-5, Kigali, Rwanda.
P. Makolo, I. Oladeji, R. Zamora, and T.-T. Lie, "Short-range Inertia Prediction for Power Networks with Penetration of RES," TENCON2021 Conference, IEEE, pp. 1-6, 2021, Auckland, New Zealand.
P. F. Gutman, P. Makolo, and R. Zamora, "Modelling and Analysis of Load Frequency Control in Small Power Systems: A Case Study of New Zealand Network," 2020 Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference (AUPEC), Hobart, Australia, 2020: IEEE, pp. 1-6.
P. Makolo, R. Zamora, and T.-T. Lie, "Heuristic Inertia Estimation Technique for Power Networks with High Penetration of RES," 2020 2nd International Conference on Smart Power & Internet Energy Systems (SPIES), Bangkok, Thailand, 2020: IEEE, pp. 356-361.
P. Makolo, J.J Justo, F. Mwasilu, R. Zamora, “Fault ride through technique for DFIG-based wind turbines under grid three-phase faults,” 2018 Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference (AUPEC), Nov. 27–30, 2018, Auckland, New Zealand.