• Energy management and optimization (control algorithms to manage disturbances or uncertainties).
• Power quality analysis as a result of renewable energy integration to the electric power system.
• Artificial intelligence in energy management.
• Sizing and optimization of energy storage systems.

• Renewable and alternative energy systems
• Energy management
• Electrical machines
• Electrical energy storage systems
• Power and Energy systems

Research output in five years: 2024 -2019

ISI Indexed journal articles

• P. Koko, “Optimal Battery Recharging Strategy for a Grid-Tied Solar Photovoltaic-Battery System.” In: Kim, J., Chen, Z. (eds) Trends in Environmental Sustainability and Green Energy. CGEEE 2024. Springer Proceedings in Earth and Environmental Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-81560-7_17
• Kusakana K, P. Koko, Optimal Energy Management of a Hybrid Powered Marine Outfall with Energy Recovery from Wastewater Discharge. International Conference on Environment Sciences and Renewable Energy 2023 Jun 19 (pp. 99-112). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-96-4345-5_8

• P. Koko, “Optimal battery sizing for a grid-tied solar photovoltaic system supplying a residential load: A case study under South African solar irradiance.” Energy Reports, vol. 8, pp.410-418, 2022.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2022.02.183

• Moselane, S.P. Koko, and K. Kusakana. “Modelling and simulation of a hydropower system using wastewater discharged from Marine outfalls.” Energy Reports, vol. 8, pp.780-787, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2022.10.315
• P. Tshetlhe, A.J. Swart, S.P. Koko, “Investigating alternative power generation strategies for local municipalities that are tied to the national grid.” 3c Tecnología: glosas de innovación aplicadas a la pyme, 10(3), pp.39-55, 2021. https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/8097701.pdf
• P. Koko, K. Kusakana, T. Mathaba, "Managing residential demand uncertainty in a smart grid-interactive hydrokinetic river system." International Journal of Smart Grid and Clean Energy, Vol. 9, no. 5, pp. 924-929, 2020.

https://doi.org/10.12720/sgce.9.5.924-929

• Shirinda, K., K. Kusakana, and P. Koko. "Techno-Economic Analysis of a Grid-Connected Photovoltaic with Groundwater Pumped Hydro Storage for Commercial Farming Activities. "International Journal of Simulation--Systems, Science & Technology, Vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 30.1-30.4, 2020.

https://ijssst.info/Vol-21/No-2/cover-21-2.htm

• Marais, K. Kusakana, S.P Koko, "Lifecycle analysis of a grid-interactive photovoltaic with battery storage: Case of South African residential loads. "International Journal of Simulation--Systems, Science & Technology, Vol. 21, no. 2, 2020.

DOI 10.5013/IJSSST.a.21.02.30

• N. Mbele, K. Kusakana, S.P. Koko, "Simulations and experimental validation of Pico conduit pressure hydropower systems with battery storage." Journal of Energy Storage, Vol. 26, 100976, 2019.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2019.100976

• P. Koko, K. Kusakana, H.J. Vermaak, "Optimal power dispatch of a grid-interactive micro-hydrokinetic-pumped hydro storage system." Journal of Energy Storage Vol.17, pp. 63-72, 2018.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2018.02.013

• Koko, S.P., Kusakana, K. and Vermaak, H.J., 2018. Optimal sizing of a micro-hydrokinetic pumped-hydro-storage hybrid system for different demand sectors. In Sustainable Cloud and Energy Services(pp. 219-242). Springer, Cham.
• P. Koko, K. Kusakana, H. Vermaak “Optimal Power Flow Control of a Grid-Connected Hydrokinetic Pumped Hydro Storage System for Residential Load Profile”. Advanced Science Letters, Vol. 17, pp. 8-15, 2018.

https://doi.org/10.1166/asl.2018.12521

• P. Koko, K Kusakana, HJ Vermaak, “Optimal energy management of a grid-connected micro-hydrokinetic with pumped hydro storage system”. Journal of Energy Storage, Vol. 14, pp. 8-15, 2017.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2017.09.007

• P. Koko, K. Kusakana, H.J. Vermaak, “Micro-hydrokinetic River System Modelling and Analysis as compared to Wind System for Remote Rural Electrification”, Electric Power Systems Research, Volume 126, pp. 38-44, September 2015.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsr.2015.04.018

• J. Vermaak, K. Kusakana, S.P. Koko, “Status of Micro-Hydrokinetic River Technology in Rural Applications – a review of literature”, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Review, Volume 29, pp. 625-633, 2014.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.08.066

Conference papers: 2024 -2019

Please use this format:

• Kusakana, J. Jurasz and S.P. Koko, "Modeling and Simulation of Hydrokinetic Power Integration in Tailrace Systems for Enhanced Hydropower Generation." In 2025 15th International Renewable Energy Congress (IREC), pp. 1-6. IEEE, 2025. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/10926756
• Neku, and S.P. Koko, "A Recent Review of Passive Filters as Used in Solar Photovoltaic-Based Systems to Mitigate Harmonics." In 2025 15th International Renewable Energy Congress (IREC), pp. 1-6, IEEE, 2025. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/10926746
• Neku, and S.P. Koko, "A Four-Branch RLC Filter for a Grid-Tied Solar Photovoltaic System Coupled to a Weak Grid Network." In 2025 15th International Renewable Energy Congress (IREC), pp. 1-6. IEEE, 2025.

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/10926786

• Neku, S. and Koko, S.P. “Impact of a Weak Grid-network on a Grid-tied Solar Photovoltaic System Supplying a Non-linear Load.” In 2023 International Conference on Electrical, Communication and Computer Engineering (ICECCE) (pp. 1-6). IEEE. 30-31 December 2023.

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/10442980

• Koko, S.P. and Kusakana, K., 2023, March. Impact of Corrosion in Carbon Steel Pipeline of Marine Wastewater Outfall during Electric Power Generation. In 2023 7th International Conference on Green Energy and Applications (ICGEA) (pp. 252-256). IEEE. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/10125917
• Moselane, K. Kusakana, S.P. Koko, “Techno-economic analysis of marine outfalls wastewater discharge for electricity generation.” In 2022 IEEE PES/IAS Power Africa (pp. 1-5). IEEE. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9905237
• Marais, K. Kusakana, S.P Koko, "Optimal energy management and economic analysis of a grid-interactive PV with battery storage system in Cape Town." In 2020 IEEE 29th International Symposium on Industrial Electronics (ISIE), pp. 941-946. IEEE, 2020. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9152536
• Shirinda, K. Kusakana, S.P. Koko, "Optimal Power Dispatch of a Grid-Connected Photovoltaic with Groundwater Pumped-Hydro Storage System Supplying a Farmhouse." In 2020 International Conference on Smart Grid and Clean Energy Technologies (ICSGCE), pp. 5-9. IEEE, 2020.

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9275604

• Marais, K. Kusakana, S.P. Koko, "Techno-economic feasibility analysis of a grid-interactive solar PV system for South African residential load". Presented in 2019 Proceedings of the 27th Domestic Use of Energy Conference, IEEE, Cape Town, pp. 163-168, 25-27 March 2019.

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/8734424

• Shirinda, K. Kusakana, S.P. Koko, "Techno-economic analysis of a standalone solar PV with groundwater pumped-hydro-storage system". Presented in 2019 Proceedings of the 27th Domestic Use of Energy Conference, IEEE, Cape Town, pp. 90-95, 25-27 March 2019.

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/8734322

• N. Mbele, K. Kusakana, S.P. Koko, "Experimental analysis of small conduit pressure hydropower systems". Presented in 2019 Proceedings of the 27th Domestic Use of Energy Conference, IEEE, Cape Town, pp. 16-19, 25-27 March 2019. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/8734379
• Moselane, K. Kusakana, S.P. Koko. “Using Marine Outfall Wastewater Discharge Systems for Electricity Generation.” In 2019 Open Innovations (OI) (pp. 206-210). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/OI.2019.8908260
• Marais, K. Kusakana, S.P. Koko. “Energy Monitoring for Potential Cost Saving in a Typical South African Household.” In 2019 Open Innovations (OI) (pp. 122-126). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/OI.2019.8908163
• Marais, K. Kusakana, S.P. Koko, "Prospective implementation of grid-interactive photovoltaic systems in the South African residential sector". Presented in IEEE Open Innovations Conference, Johannesburg, in October 2018. https://doi.org/10.1109/OI.2018.8535931
• Shirinda, K. Kusakana, S.P. Koko, "A Survey of Groundwater Pumping Technologies for Electricity generation through Hydropower". Presented in IEEE Open Innovations Conference, Johannesburg, in October 2018.

https://doi.org/10.1109/OI.2018.8535632

• P. Koko, K. Kusakana, H.J. Vermaak, "Rule-based Control Strategy for a River-based Grid-connected Hydrokinetic System" Presented in 2018 IEEE International Conference on Intelligent and Innovative Computing Applications (ICONIC), Mauritius, 6-7 December 2018. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICONIC.2018.8601293
• P. Koko, K Kusakana, HJ Vermaak “Grid-interactive micro-hydrokinetic with pumped-hydro storage, The case study of three South African demand sectors”. Domestic Use of Energy (DUE 2017) International Conference, pp. 83-88, IEEE, 4-6 April 2017. https://doi.org/10.23919/DUE.2017.7931828
• P. Koko, K Kusakana, HJ Vermaak “Energy flow modeling between grid and micro-hydrokinetic-pumped hydro storage hybrid system”. Industrial and Commercial Use of Energy (ICUE 2017) International Conference, pp. 19-25, IEEE, 14-16 August 2017. https://doi.org/10.23919/ICUE.2017.8067985
• P. Koko, K. Kusakana and H.J. Vermaak. “Impact of different load profiles on sizing and performance of a micro-hydrokinetic system”. Proceedings of the South African Universities Power Engineering Conference (SAUPEC 2017), pp. 410-421, January 2017. https://az817975.vo.msecnd.net/wm-418498-cmsimages/Saupec_Proceedings_2017.pdf

Professional Affiliation

• Professionally registered with ECSA as a Professional Engineering Technologist.

1. Awards

• Award for being the best conference presenter at the 2nd International Conference on Power Engineering (ICPE2021) that was hosted in Nanning, China.
• Award for being one of the top 10 best presenters at the South African Universities Power Engineering Conference (SAUPEC2015) that was held in Johannesburg, South Africa.
• Award for being the best post-graduate student in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology at the Central University of Technology, Free State.

• Use of passive filters to eliminate harmonics generated by PV solar systems and nonlinear loads.
• Techno-economic analysis of marine outfall wastewater discharge for electricity generation.
• Investigating alternative power generation strategies for local municipalities that are tied to the national grid.
• Optimal energy management in a smart home based on photovoltaic systems energy feed-in tariff: case of South Africa.
• Optimal management of a small grid-connected PV with groundwater-pump hydro energy storage for farming in an arid area.
• Utilization of small conduit hydro generation for domestic loads.
• Optimal energy control of a grid-connected solar wind-based electric power plant applying the time of use tariff.

Note: Please refer to the research areas for other topics or projects and discuss with Dr. Koko

Dr Sandile P. Koko is a Senior Lecturer and researcher in the Department of Electrical and Smart Systems Engineering at the University of South Africa (UNISA). He possesses over 17 years of academic and research experience since 2007. Prior to his current role, he held positions such as Technical assistant, Lecturer, and subsequently Senior Lecturer at the Central University of Technology, Free State, in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

He is a National Research Foundation (NRF) C3-rated researcher, a distinction that reflects his status as an established scholar with a consistent record of high-quality and impactful research. His primary research areas of specialization include renewable energy systems (solar, wind, and hydrokinetic), power and energy systems, energy management, and alternative energy technologies.

Dr Koko actively contributes to scholarly dissemination as a peer reviewer for platforms such as EasyChair and journals under the Elsevier publishing group. He is engaged in the supervision of postgraduate students. He is also professionally registered as a Professional Engineering Technologist with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).