Professor Thomas Kivevele is an Associate Professor of Clean Energy Technologies at the school of Materials, Energy, Water and Environmental Sciences (MEWES). His academic credentials include a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Sustainable Energy from Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria, South Africa. Additionally, he holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Electro-Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dar es Salaam. He is a recipient of the prestigious 2018 Fulbright African Senior Research Scholar award to conduct research on biofuels at Baylor University, Texas – USA. The Fulbright Program is the premier international education and exchange initiative of the U.S. Department of State. In 2015, after completing his Ph.D., Prof. Kivevele joined NM-AIST as a Lecturer. Through dedication and excellence in his field, he ascended to the position of Associate Professor in 2023. Prof. Kivevele teaches various energy-related subjects, ranging from renewable energy technologies and passive solar energy systems to refrigeration, air conditioning, and energy auditing and management. In addition to his academic duties, Prof. Kivevele plays an active role in university governance as he leads the Clean Energy Technologies Research Group and the Sustainable Energy Research Lab. Prof. Kivevele has authored 75+ articles in peer-reviewed journals, showcasing his research prowess, and holds five patents for innovative designs of solar dryers, method for production of portland pozzolana cement using activated Bentonite and a biogas burner assembly. At different times, he serves as an External Examiner for esteemed institutions such as Tshwane University of Technology (South Africa), Moi University (Kenya), University of Dar es Salaam, Mbeya University of Science and Technology, and Arusha Technical College. His commitment to sustainable development is evident in national consultancies, including assessing energy-efficient irrigation technologies in Moshi - Kilimanjaro for the Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA) and overseeing the construction of a bio-digester integrated with a wetland at Mwanza City Abattoir for the Lake Victoria Environmental Management Program (LVEMP) funded by the World Bank. In essence, Prof. Kivevele's journey is marked by academic excellence, leadership roles, and impactful contributions to advancing clean energy technologies and sustainable practices at both academic and practical levels.

• Renewable energy technologies
• Passive solar energy technology
• Solar energy systems for buildings and cities

Key Projects (on-going) as Principal Investigator

• EXAF-JFD: Exploiting the potential of underutilized plants and agricultural wastes in biofuels production (CHF 458,940 ≈ US $ 510,981.50). Funded by Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Morocco. 2021 – 2026. https://exaf.nm-aist.ac.tz/; https://www.epfl.ch/research/domains/exaf/excellence-in-africa-2/exaf-a-dynamic-research-centre/potential-of-underutilized-plants-and-agricultural-wastes-in-biofuels-production-a-pathway-to-reducing-fuel-energy-versus-food-competition-in-africa/
• CNRS-Africa JRP: Embodied energy” Socializing low technologies and resources in alternative energy production. Funded by The Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Joint Research Programme in Africa (CNRS-Africa JRP)-France. Partners: CNRS, Maasai Mara University (Kenya) and NM-AIST. (EUR 180,000). 2023 – 2027. One of our main activities involves training the Maasai community and local government to use biogas for domestic cooking as a solution to combat climate change by reducing the reliance on fuelwood.
• African Research Initiative for Scientific Excellence Pilot Program (ARISE-PP): Development of Solar–biogas hybrid dryer for drying agricultural products (EUR 400,000) funded by European Union and coordinated by African Union and the African Academy of Sciences (AAS). 2022 – 2027. https://arise.aasciences.app/grantees/dr-thomas-kivevele.
• PASET RSIF: Exploiting the potential of solar-powered cooler for vaccine and perishable foods storage in remote areas of Sub-Saharan Africa (US $ 85,000), funded by PASET-RSIF through funds from the World Bank. 2022 – 2024.
• PEER-USAID: Development of Solar dryer integrated with energy storage materials (US$ 136,000) funded by USAID and coordinated of the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (ASEM). 2021 – 2024.

https://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/PEER/PEERscience/PGA_364775

• Selected Key research and consultancy projects (successful phased-out)
• TWAS: Evaluation of suitability of water hyacinth from Lake Victoria-Tanzania as a feedstock for Biofuel Production funded by the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) - US $ 40,915.00. 2018 – 2019.
• COSTECH: Heat Pump Drying Technology for Industrial and Agricultural Applications in Tanzania funded by Tanzania Commission of Science and Technology (TZS 100,947,000.00). 2019 - 2021
• PASET-RSIF: Development of Solar-assisted heat pump drying system (US $ 81,000). funded by PASET-RSIF through funds from the World Bank. 2020 – 2023. https://www.rsif-paset.org/project/solar-assisted-heat-pump-dryer-with-energy-storage-for-drying-biomaterials/.
• HORIZON 2020: Linking East and West African farming systems experience into a BELT of sustainable intensification (EWA BELT) Funded by European Union through HORIZON 2020 programme. Project reference no. 862848. 2020 – 2024. https://www.ewabelt.eu/nelson-mandela-african-institute.
• DAMOC Project - Development of a HArmonized MOdular Curriculum for the Smart Grid, funded by Erasmus+ of the European Union. Total budget of the project was € 882,397.00 (NM-AIST Budget was €131,845.00). 2016 – 2019. https://damoc.eu/index.php/activities/labs/.
• ERASMUS+ KA 107 of the European Union: Mobility project of the European Commission for higher education students and staff. Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary, NM-AIST and Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (Tanzania). (EUR 35,000). 2019 – 2022.
• ERASMUS+ KA 107 of the European Union: Mobility project of the European Commission for higher education students and staff. Project partner is Technische Universität Dresden, German (EUR 57,000). 01.08.2020 – 31.07.2023.
• Consultancy to Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA): Consultancy for comparative assessment of application of energy-efficient irrigation technologies versus diesel pump and other types of irrigation technologies in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania training farmers on energy-efficient irrigation technologies and producing a manual for best practices in horticultural production. November 2020 to March 2021.
• Consultancy to Lake Victoria Environmental Management Programme (LVEMP): Construction of proposed artificial wetland for Mwanza city abattoir effluent treatment integrated with bio-digester with funds from the World Bank. My main task was supervising bio-digester fabrication & installation. March 2017– June 2017.
• Consultancy to Transfrig & GIZ, South Africa: Performance and Emissions Testing of R404A food transport refrigeration unit using natural refrigerant (R290) – simulations and experiments while attached with Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria. Feb – May, 2015.
• Consultancy to Golden Jubilee Towers (PSPF): Sizing, supply, installation and commissioning of ≈ 4 MW power generators (2 x 2000 kVA, synchronized), Dar Es Salaam – Tanzania while working with Merry water Ltd. Jan – Sept, 2012.

• KIVEVELE, T. & KICHONGE, B. 2024. Techno-economic evaluation of transesterification processes for biodiesel production from low quality non-edible feedstocks: Process design and simulation, Energy, 297 (2024) 131302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2024.131302.
• KARIIM, I., PARK, J., KAZMIC, W. W., SWAI, H., LEE, I. & KIVEVELE, T. 2024. Solvothermal liquefaction of orange peels into biocrude: An experimental investigation of biocrude yield and energy compositional dependency on process variables, Bioresource Technology, 129928. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129928.
• KICHONGE, B. & KIVEVELE, T. 2024. Sustainable biofuel production in Sub-Saharan Africa: Exploring transesterification process, nonedible feedstocks, and policy implications. WIREs Energy and Environment, 13(3), e519. https://doi.org/10.1002/wene.519.
• FODE, T. A., JANDE Y. A. C., & KIVEVELE, T. 2024. Effects of raw and different calcined bentonite on durability and mechanical properties of cement composite material, Case Studies in Construction Materials, 20, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2024.e03012.
• SAID, T. A., KICHONGE, B. & KIVEVELE, T. Optimal design and analysis of a grid-connected hybrid renewable energy system using HOMER Pro: A case study of Tumbatu Island, Zanzibar, Energy Science & Engineering, DOI: 10.1002/ese3.1735

For more publications: visit google scholar link: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=HrpWQEAAAAAJ&hl=en

• Orcid ID
• Google Scholar

Patent:

(i.) Gas burner manifold assembly. Patent no. TZ/P/2019/000086, registered by Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA) – Tanzania.

(ii.) solar dryer integrated with thermal energy storage system for drying agricultural. Patent no. TZ/P/2023/000088, registered by Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA) – Tanzania.

(iii.) Solar-assisted heat pump dryer with thermal energy storage, Patent no. TZ/P/2023/000093 registered by Business Registration and Licensing Agency (BRELA) – Tanzania

(iv.) Solar-biogas hybrid dryer. Patent no. TZ/P/2024/000032, registered by Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA) – Tanzania.

(v.) Method for production of Portland Pozzolana Cement Using Activated Bentonite. Patent no. TZ/P/2023/000152 registered by Business Registration and Licensing Agency (BRELA) – Tanzania