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Location: Southeast England and Bordeaux Region, France
Project/Case: Three vineyards in the Southeast of England and at one in Bordeaux, France.
Year: 2025
Spring frosts can devastate vineyards. Temperatures as mild as -2°C can wipe out up to 50% of a season’s yield.
Climate change has brought earlier bud-burst and more frequent frost events, increasing the risk. Traditional protection methods, such as fire bougies, fans, and sprinklers, have limitations. These include environmental impact, labour demands, and high operating costs.
Heatcom developed a custom vineyard frost protection cable for outdoor agricultural use.
The cable has UV-stable outer insulation with fluoropolymer and XLPE inner layers for durable construction. It carries a 20-year warranty. The system runs on plug-and-play control panels with air temperature sensors for automated operation. Power options include 230V or 410V, from mains or generator supply.
The system prioritises convective heat transfer. This moves warm air past the buds, reducing frost damage.
Heatcom installed the system in 2025 across three sites in Southeast England and one in Bordeaux, France. The installation used bespoke cable lengths and plug-and-play control gear.
During a severe frost event in May 2025, temperatures dropped to -3°C for over three hours. Heatcom-protected vines suffered 83% less frost damage than unprotected control rows. Protected vines lost just 0.66 buds and shoots per vine. Unprotected vines lost 3.89 buds and shoots per vine.
The system offers several benefits to vineyard managers. It operates silently, causing no disturbance to neighbours or wildlife. It produces zero light pollution and uses no water, making it suitable for restricted environments. Because it uses no chemical sprays, it is eco-friendly. The cable can stay installed year-round, so there is no need to dismantle it after spring. Labour requirements stay minimal because the system is fully automated. Running costs are approximately £35 per hour for one hectare.
The Heatcom system can pay for itself in as little as two seasons. It protects crops that would otherwise be lost. Operating costs compare favourably to gas heaters. Capital investment is similar to running fire bougies for just four frost nights, without the manpower and environmental downsides.
VINEYARD_CASE_STUDY_Heatcom_EN_V1.pdf
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