Water and renewable energy Case studies
At Wave Consulting, we partner with like-minded organisations to create positive outcomes for water and renewable energy. Read our key partnership case studies to see examples of our work and be inspired to partner with us.
You will find a huge list of our past projects here. From small to big, from local to international, from the middle of the city to remote camping grounds, from houses to factories, and all about our work in water and renewable energy.
Browse our water and renewable energy case studies
Why partner with us?
Our key question for every project we do is; How will this project reduce water consumption, create healthier rivers, and reduce emissions? All our projects illustrate how we can create a more liveable and sustainable city.
we look for innovation in every single project
we believe action on climate change saves money*
we deliver projects on time
we take a water-energy nexus perspective
*Sustainability, saving water and saving energy means saving money
Stormwater strategy case studies
Integrated water strategy (peri-urban)
Wollondilly Shire Council | Dharawal, Darug and Gundungurra land
Wave Consulting completed an Integrated Water Management Strategy (along with a policy and guideline) for Wollondilly Shire Council.
The value of water in the Wollondilly LGA (local government area) extends across many areas of the community and the landscape. From healthy swimmable rivers to agricultural production, to the support for biodiversity hotspots, and the support of green infrastructure to support vegetation and trees in the urban landscape.
The sustainable use of water, and the use of water to support green and liveable urban development is critical in a world now experiencing the impacts of climate change. The scale of urban development and climate change are two significant issues that affect the way we approach water issues.
Guideline for water sensitive investments
Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities
Wave Consulting was engaged by the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities to draft a guideline that summarises the latest research on non-market values and economic evaluation. The guideline is for local government practitioners needing to create a business case for water sensitive investments.
There have been several in-depth research studies and databases developed to document the range of non-market values of water sensitive investments.
The guideline we designed was to distil much of this work into a shorter document for local government practitioners to easily digest. It highlighted that technical data associated with non-market values should be seen as part of a bigger piece of work required in drafting a business case. This must include a broader narrative.
“Rob has the ability to move hearts and minds. I’ve collaborated with Rob on many occasions and have noticed his ability to craft a story and to engage an audience in messages of change. I believe that this is a crucial skill in a sustainability professional.”
Hydrological capacity building in the Pacific
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
Wave Consulting Australia was commissioned to undertake an assessment of the hydrological capacity of Pacific Island nations. The report, completed in 2019, focused on the assessment of the hydrological capacity, gaps and needs of 21 different countries in the Pacific region. The countries are members of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
The project was managed by SPREP and guided by the Pacific Hydrological Services Panel (PHS Panel). Funding was provided by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
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Hydrological services are defined as the systematic approach to water resources data recording, collection, processing, storage, archiving, rescuing, production and dissemination of data and information, and hydrological forecasting and management.
The countries and territories in the Pacific are among the most vulnerable to climate change impacts. These impacts are forecast to include changes in rainfall patterns, storm surges and sea-level rise. Water security, flooding and climate change are key issues in the region, affecting millions of people every day.
Each island state relies on different water sources to meet the needs of the community, and this often changes across islands and provinces within the country. The islands that are often considered to be the most vulnerable are atolls, which rely on a groundwater lens for water supply.
Lewis Park Masterplan
Lewis Park, Knox City Council | Kulin nation, Wurundjeri and Bunurong lands
Wave Consulting and McGregor Coxall were engaged to develop a masterplan for Lewis Park, in the centre of the City of Knox. Lewis Park is a Melbourne Water owned and managed retarding basin.
As part of this project, we reviewed the whole space and community's needs and delivered a vision of:
lively spaces for people to engage with nature, culture, and sport
stronger connections between the parklands and our busiest community hubs
revitalised waterways that support our local flora and fauna to thrive
opportunities to tell the story of Indigenous culture and history.
The outcome was a new masterplan that was approved by Council in April 2019. Lewis Park Masterplan provides a 20-year vision for creating inclusive spaces for people to engage with nature, culture, and sport – and where the natural environment can thrive. The plan is now being implemented.
Award winner
The Lewis Park Masterplan project won an Australian Institute of Landscape Architects 2019 award for master planning.
Prioritising stormwater harvesting
City of Casey | Kulin nation, Wurundjeri and Bunurong lands
Wave Consulting was engaged to review 55 reserves for the City of Casey and review their potential for stormwater harvesting. The aim was to future-proof the ovals from water restrictions and improve liveability.
The City of Casey has a municipal-wide target to reduce potable projected water use by at least 30% by 2031 (City of Casey, 2015, Integrated Water Management Plan).
In this project, we were to determine the top five priority reserves that should be considered for new alternative water projects and to reduce potable water use in Casey.
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The objective was to prioritise the reserves according to multiple benefits, such as the ability to harvest water, reduce flooding, improve tree growth and increase greenery, and reduce stormwater pollution.
We created a prioritisation system that allowed us to integrate data from Melbourne Water, Bureau of Meteorology, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, and City of Casey to create a matrix of 14 factors that all used quantitative and objective datasets.
The top five priority sites had site-specific concepts developed and are now seeking funding.
Stormwater design work case studies
Integrated water design solution @ Casey Fields
City of Casey | Kulin nation, Wurundjeri and Bunurong lands
Casey Fields is a premium sporting precinct in the City of Casey, 45 kilometres southeast of Melbourne’s CBD. It has a reputation for creating high profile and well-managed sporting facilities and ovals for major AFL, cricket, rugby league, athletics, road cycling, BMX and tennis clubs in Victoria and Australia.
Wave Consulting developed a suite of design options to extend and optimise the integrated water management solution for the precinct. As a result of our solutions, in the future, Casey Fields will be saving 94% potable water through a combination of recycled water, stormwater harvesting and rainfall solutions.
Passively watered trees
Blacktown City Council | Darug lands
Wave Consulting was engaged to complete an iconic project in western Sydney, to trial solutions that address urban heat and extreme summer temperatures. Land surfaces in western Sydney can be up to 12 degrees hotter compared to green spaces, in an average summer. We produced:
a prioritisation model and GIS layers to identify the best locations
a review and update of current standard drawings
a physical 3D model that can be used as an educational prop in the future
design concepts for four sites
construction drawings for all trial sites.
“Rob Catchlove is talented and extremely knowledgeable across the fields of sustainability, integrated water management, stakeholder and community engagement. He’s always on the front foot, is an innovator and definite leader in his field.
I’ve had the pleasure to work with Rob on a number of professional projects during the past eight years. While working for Melbourne Water I led the 10,000 Raingardens program. Rob was instrumental in helping me achieve such an ambitious target from program design and development through to implementation.
I would highly recommend Wave Consulting for any project big or small, and can’t wait to work with the team again!”
Guideline for charged pipes and rainwater tanks in subdivisions
Merri-bek City Council | Kulin nation, Wurundjeri lands
Wave Consulting, in partnership with Brunswick Builders, produced a guideline for the City of Merri-bek to deliver rainwater tanks that use charged pipes underneath concrete slabs. This captures 100% of the roof area into rainwater tanks for all new residential developments.
The guideline included a step-by-step construction guide and a case study where this guideline was applied to develop an acceptable stormwater solution that can capture 100% of the roof area of a new development using charged pipes.
MUSIC modelling and design of planter boxes
Wave Consulting is often asked to model and deliver design solutions to reduce potable consumption and stormwater pollution and increase the effectiveness of rainwater tank options. We do this work with the industry software package MUSIC (Model for Urban Stormwater Improvement Conceptualisation). MUSIC is a custom-built tool that models water flowing through an urban area and subdivision every six minutes, sometimes for up to 50 years.
In all our projects we consider how to get the best water saving, environmental and economic return to meet council and state government requirements.
Projects often rely on a mix of rainwater and planter box/raingarden solutions. We develop this mix through our ability to do ‘scenario’ modelling in MUSIC.
On-site detention
RBI Architects | Kulin nation, Wurundjeri lands
All residential and commercial development has an influence on the demand for potable water and the discharge of stormwater.
Councils regulate the discharge of stormwater and require you to detain a certain amount of flow to reduce the impact on flooding downstream. This is an OSD (on-site detention) design solution.
Wave Consulting is often engaged to design and document the OSD solution for a site, in the context of the catchment and other water sensitive urban design solutions required on site.
We do this through modelling consistent with 2016 Australian Rainfall and Runoff guidelines and Bureau of Meteorology 2016 IFD data.
The graphic here illustrates the location of an OSD within a dual occupancy lot development we completed recently.
Solar project case studies
Solar panels with lots of shade
Wave Consulting is often engaged to help people look a variety of options for solar panels at their home.
Solar panels are generally a very good investment and enable you to generate wholesale energy, used directly at home or in a business, for a far cheaper rate than you buy at a retail price.
For a project in outer Melbourne, we used our solar panels to determine how effective the panels and financial investment would be. We noted the various trees around the property that create a lot of shade on the panels.
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We found that even if the shading reduces the generation by 55% output, the panels will still deliver a return on investment.
All projects will be different though, depending on location, orientation, solar exposure, roof orientation, and types of panels and strings.
What are my solar options?
Andrew, homeowner | Kulin nation, Wurundjeri lands
Wave Consulting provides services to review a range of options for solar at home. Suppliers will look at the easiest install, but we do ‘pre solar modelling’ to review all roof areas and shading. We also look at how the photovoltaic system will work in sync with your hot water, heating and cooling, rainwater tank and cooking. This allows you to ensure that suppliers are designing solar systems with an integrated perspective.
Review of Building Integrated Photovoltaics
Impact Investment Group and Woods Bagot | Kulin nation, Wurundjeri lands
Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) are clear glass windows that generate electricity! Wave Consulting reviewed some BIPVs as part of a project to develop energy and water options for a brownfield redevelopment site. We engaged with suppliers and researchers to consider the pros and cons of three BIPVs:
transparent glass containing photovoltaic technology
adhesive photovoltaic cells
roofing materials embedded with photovoltaic cells.
We discovered these products are currently being developed in Australia and trialled in different environments around the country. All options are relatively expensive but represent innovations and have a powerful message when displayed in public places such as schools and leisure centres.
Solar and battery options - commercial upgrade
Eureka Ag | Kulin nation, Wurundjeri lands
Wave Consulting completed a feasibility study for a large electricity user and manufacturing plant in Altona, in the western suburbs of Melbourne. We reviewed the potential for more solar panels and battery storage, to offset grid-purchased electricity. Subsequently, our recommendation was to proceed with solar at one site, but not the other.
We also recommended investigating other energy retailers to obtain a more competitive tariff.
Water evaluation and audit case studies
NABERS Water Audit
CBRE and ISPT | Kulin nation, Wurundjeri lands
Wave Consulting was appointed to review water use at a large office building in Melbourne CBD to improve their NABERS water rating. Through this process we:
reviewed the water systems and appliances
engaged with the team
analysed data
integrated the NABERS ratings targets (in litres/square metre)
produced a report to help ISPT in moving towards a higher rated building.
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This building needs more than 30 ML a year of water. With the aim of lifting the performance to 4.5 stars, we provided 12 recommendations across the following themes:
water efficiency
alternative supply options
monitoring
engagement with tenants
maintenance.
School water audit
Brunswick South West Primary | Kulin nation, Wurundjeri lands
Wave Consulting completed a water audit of a primary school, to help them comply with the Victorian government’s ResourceSmart Schools program. This included a report that documented water use for all toilets, sinks, drinking fountains, hot water use, kitchens, heating/cooling, landscaping, and irrigation. It also included an inspection of the rainwater tanks on site. This audit was used to recommend several improvements to save water and reduce maintenance on the school grounds.
Water sensitive city case studies
Water Sensitive City Strategy and WCS Index review
Ku-ring-gai Council | Darramurragal Country
We worked with Ku-ring-gai Council to draft their Water Sensitive City Strategy targets and finalise the results of a Water Sensitive City Index review. We also refined and confirmed the actions and roles of the strategy. Their ambitious targets will see Ku-ring-gai deliver benefits to the area for the community and environment in both the short and long term.
In 2022, the strategy is now published. You can also read more in our blog.
Community energy and neighbourhood battery case studies
Feasibility of “Neighbourhood Batteries”
Clean Energy Nillumbik | Kulin nation, Wurundjeri lands
Wave Consulting is leading an innovative project to explore the feasibility of ‘neighbourhood batteries’ in north east Melbourne. This DELWP funded project, for the community group Clean Energy Nillumbik, is one of the first in Victoria.
Clean Energy Nillumbik have a vision for 100% renewable energy for all stationary energy uses in Nillumbik, by 2028. They have been advocating for increased energy efficiency, increased renewable energy generation and now increased storage to support these improvements and reductions in emissions.
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The team has already conducted significant engagement with the DNSP, AusNet, and as such have identified three potential sites that have significant solar penetration and where a neighbourhood battery will allow for even more solar penetration in the local community.
The aim is for this work to serve as a template for more communities in Victoria to adopt neighbourhood scale batteries, allowing for much greater uptake of renewable energy across the state.
“Rob and the team have been great to work with on neighbourhood battery initiatives in Victoria. They always are extremly flexible in catering for the varied requirements of volunteers (i.e. us at Clean Energy Nillumbik), our community/residents, and people with a ‘day-job’ in this area (i.e. State Government, local council, academics). This flexibility is backed by genuine interest - it shows.”
Feasibility of “Community Energy” entity
Bendigo Bank | Kulin nation, Wurundjeri lands
Community energy is a concept where the local community becomes the owners and financiers of small to large renewable energy systems. But who owns what? How do I buy this energy, and for what price? And is there a dividend or a discount on your bill? We recently finished a project to work through some of these answers.
Wave Consulting worked closely with Bendigo Bank to do the feasibility of a new community energy facility on the fringe of Melbourne. We looked at large and small-scale systems and considered options for partnering with farmers and schools. What was interesting was that Bendigo Bank was always driven by responding to community concerns and interests. They made sure the solution involved a partnership model.
We worked out there is a sweet spot where community energy is feasible, particularly with small scale assets (up to 99.9 kW). We were able to do the energy and financial analysis to prove how this works. We hope in the post COVID-19 period that we can help get this off the ground and support other community groups in setting community energy up.
Microgrids in residential areas
Halpin St Energy Inc | Kulin nation, Wurundjeri lands
Rob Catchlove led a community pilot project to develop a residential microgrid in Brunswick West. The project has a strong consumer push (80% interest based on face-to-face discussions with all residents) to explore new solutions for managing and sharing electricity in an established street. The final goal is to create a microgrid run on renewables and enable consumers to spend less on electricity. The project’s purpose is to also experiment and learn about the best technical, financial and regulatory solutions for established streets and precincts within a city.
Though the best model is still unclear (for consumers, distributors and retailers), we intend to investigate and learn by doing. From our research we have found there is a consumer willingness to take part and invest in new technologies, with the potential for reduced peak loads, increased knowledge base, and a transition to a low carbon economy.
Net zero and sustainable homes case studies
Zero emissions house conversion
Brunswick home | Kulin nation, Wurundjeri lands
Wave Consulting has designed and delivered a zero emissions house by combining energy efficiency, transition away from gas (cooktop, heating and hot water) and new photovoltaics and batteries. The house is now running on solar and battery power 95% of the time, and uses ZERO GAS.
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As part of this project we:
1. researched and reviewed other sustainable houses
2. completed the financial modelling
3. engaged with suppliers and researchers
4. worked with a variety of installers to implement the best system.
We know that the most challenging part of transitioning to zero emissions is the heating and cooling of a house, so finding the best integrated approach in systems is key.
We plan to extend the zero emissions house to zero emissions transport through the adoption of an electric car!
Looking for an energy efficiency consultant?
We work with organisations that share our goals and values to create positive outcomes for water and renewable energy. We undertake projects in cities: Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and more.