Case Study
Sustainable Bubble Curtains at Bewdley
Customer
Frog Environmental & Environment Agency
Sector
Renewables / Water Utilities
Location
Bewdley, United Kingdom
Equipment
Electric Air Compressor
The Challenge
The Environment Agency is delivering a flood risk management scheme on the River Severn in Bewdley, including 350 metres of new flood defences with demountable barriers and permanent raised walls designed to protect the local community while maintaining river views.
As part of the works, Frog Environmental was engaged to deploy its bubble curtain mitigation system to reduce the spread of sediment, turbidity and underwater disturbance during in-river construction activities. Bubble curtains rely on continuous, stable compressed air to form a uniform barrier of rising bubbles from the riverbed, helping to protect sensitive aquatic environments.
Traditional diesel-powered compressors presented challenges around emissions, noise and fuel use, which conflicted with the project’s sustainability objectives. A reliable, flexible and cleaner temporary compressed air solution was required to support effective environmental mitigation without compromising performance.
The Solution
Frog Environmental worked in close collaboration with GenAir UK Ltd and TCP Group to deliver an innovative, low-emission compressed air solution for the bubble curtain installation.
A GenAir electric compressor provided consistent, high-quality compressed air to power the bubble curtain, ensuring stable airflow and reliable system performance. The compressor was supplied with power from a TCP Group battery energy storage system, creating a fully electric,noise-reduced and zero-emission setup.
This specialist, turnkey rental solution offered a modular and flexible approach, backed by technical expertise and on-site support, aligning seamlessly with the project’s environmental and operational requirements.
The Result
The solution successfully supported the deployment of Frog Environmental’s bubble curtain on the River Severn, demonstrating that high-performance environmental protection can be delivered using cleaner, greener technologies.
The project achieved reliable bubble curtain operation, effective sediment control and significantly reduced environmental impact, with no diesel fuel use or on-site emissions. It also provided valuable research and development insights to inform future flood defence and inland waterway projects.
The result was a resilient, efficient and sustainable temporary compressed air solution that reinforced the benefits of collaboration and innovation across the renewables and water utilities sector.