2023 Industry Laureate Profile: Professor Timothy Fletcher

Professor Timothy Fletcher

Administering Organisation: The University of Melbourne

Fellowship Project Summary 

IL230100020 – Making optimal use of stormwater in cities: a market-driven smart grid

Water is critical to cities, yet urban stormwater, such as runoff from roofs and roads, is usually wasted, even though up to 50% of this is generated from private land. This stormwater could be harvested to supply the more than 80% of urban water that is currently used for non-potable purposes (uses other than drinking, cooking and bathing). This program aims to develop a control platform that can optimize, in real-time, the use of a smart-grid of networked stormwater storages on private land. This network would enable consumers to reduce water demand by supplying their own non-potable water, but also financially reward them for water releases to streams requiring greater water flows, while reducing flood-risk by automatically drawing down storages prior to large storms. The platform will be commercialised through IP sharing arrangements with private companies and Melbourne Water, the key industry partner, will facilitate translation through its established partnerships with technology providers, retail water authorities, local government and policy-makers.

Australian Research Council funding: $3,528,655

Industry Partner: Melbourne Water Corporation

To find out more about Professor Fletcher, please visit his profile page here.

For further information about this funding scheme, please visit the Industry Laureate Fellowships page.