Water, Energy, and Carbon

The Water-Energy-Carbon (WEC) group within ACWEB are global leaders in (a) integrated urban water performance modelling and management (b) design of resilient, secure and liveable urban systems, and (c) water-energy-food-climate analysis.

Their work helps prepare utilities, government and communities for future pressures and risks including climate change. It helps identify policy-relevant strategies for industry and government to avoid “problem-shifting”.

Our specialty is collaborative systems modelling with stakeholders to achieve key Sustainable Development Goals. We build and use multiple tools including material flow analysis (MFA) models, water mass-balance analysis (SUWMBA), life cycle assessment (LCA), input-output (IO), and geographic information (GIS) analysis. 

We are highly engaged with industry nationally and internationally with high profile projects for the Water Research Foundation (USA), Asian Development Bank and private companies. 

Integrated urban water performance modelling and management

We build quantitative multi-scale tools and models which quantify “urban metabolism” – the water, energy, and material flows of cities, precincts, buildings and economies. Our work spans natural and piped water flows helping identify wastes and opportunities. 

Design of resilient, secure and liveable urban systems

Using our performance tools we design – and evaluate - sustainable, resilient, secure, liveable, multi-functional cities and water systems, precincts and cities. We developed the Urban Design Challenge a multi award-winning collaborative transdisciplinary process. 

Water-energy-food-climate analysis

We help utilities move beyond Net Zero (scope 1 and 2) and into “Net Zero Carbon Water Cycle”, where all emissions are evaluated. We guide renewable energy integration in water and wastewater and lead water-energy-food-climate integrated planning and analysis. This supports far greater resolution in circular economy urban design including virtual water flows.