One of the really interesting aspects is that the heat transfer utilizes the transfer of sap in the vine to aid protection. Smart stuff.
Find attached an article from Blenheim's 'The Sun' newspaper (click on the picture for a readable version). 
Yet more proof that the removal of frost fans from sensitive areas is not the end of viticulture. Simply using a responsible method of frost control means that everyone gets along.
2 comments:
Great concept Jack, simple but effective. One question, is the noise problem going to go away though? If this system requires an 15hp diesel generator to protect 1ha of grapes, I assume it will need about 6 of them (or one big one) to protect the same area as a frost fan so an average 20-50ha vineyard would need either 20-50 small gen sets running or one very big one. I guess they can make gen sets pretty quiet these days so thats likely not a problem but can you see growers spending the $50k per ha for the cable, then installation costs and the generator costs (hiring or buying)?
No, the noise issue doesn't disappear. I would imagine that it becomes more manageable since it should be easier to quieten a generator than a fan. I would also presume that this would scale (the noise that is) with additional generators or capacity. Likewise, a grower would have to seriously consider the cost. I couldn't see this done on a seriously large scale, and it would probably suit those smaller plots that tend to have sprouted up around residential areas.
If I took any message away from the articles it was that if faced with a situation where a fan was not possible because of the need to maintain a certain level of quiet, there are still options for frost protection and viticulture.
Can I see it happening? Yes. It will be a niche product, but it has it's place.
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