The nature of the problem facing potential customers is the prevention of flood water damage.
The proposed product can be deployed automatically either in a linear or ring fenced
configuration to protect urban areas, town centres, riverbanks, coastal areas and individual
assets e.g. substations.
The size of the market opportunity that this project might open up relates to the amount of
flood damage currently being experienced in the UK. The project relates to the development
of a step change flood barrier. This is in the so called “Grey” technological and engineering
market.
The market for flood defences to combat the flood threat in the UK is currently valued at
£2.5bn and is predicted to rise to £4bn within the next decade. Costs of flood damage in
England are around £1.1 bn pa.
The project is innovative both commercially and technically - it is the first flood barrier with
the unique combination of benefits detailed in the application. There is no other flood barrier
system in the world that has this combination.
Project timeliness relates to the increasing frequency of global flooding – this is generally
considered to be a direct result of climate change.
The novelty of this innovation in a business context relates to the development of a stepchange
flood barrier. Step change advances in flood barrier technology are being sought by
UK Government Procurement Agencies, companies and individuals.