Case Study
Frost Protection by New Way | Baudouin Case Study
Baudouin PowerKit Engines Support Frost Protection for Citrus and Blueberry Orchards in South Africa
CASE STUDY
- Cylinders: 4
- Bore & Stroke (mm): 105x118
- Total Displacement (L): 4.1
- Mechanical Fuel System
Solution
- 8 x Baudouin 4M10G2D0-S PowerKit Engines
- PRP Prime Rated Power
- Electric frost fan power for agricultural frost mitigation
- Electric frost fans supplier | Citrus and blueberry farm
Prime Power for Agricultural Frost Protection
A citrus and blueberry farm in Kakamas, in the Northern Cape region of South Africa, faced a growing winter frost risk that could damage an entire season’s yield in a single cold snap.
To protect its crops, the farm deployed a network of eight electric frost fans. To ensure reliable on-site power, the system was supported by generator sets built by New Way Power around Baudouin 4M10G2D0-S PowerKit engines.
Each genset is configured for Prime Rated Power, delivering 65 kVA, or 52 kWe, at 50 Hz. This rating is well suited to seasonal and recurring use during frost events, where the equipment must operate reliably across several nights during the frost season.
The result is a resilient prime power solution that supports electric frost fans used to reduce frost damage risk and stabilize agricultural output.
In Kakamas, clear and still winter nights can create severe radiation frost conditions.
When temperatures fall close to or below 0°C, blossoms and young fruit can suffer cell damage within hours. For citrus and blueberry farms, this can lead to major crop losses and severe financial impact.
Electric frost fans help mitigate this risk by mixing warmer inversion-layer air into the crop zone. This raises the canopy temperature just enough to help prevent ice formation and protect the crop during critical frost events.
Because these events are seasonal but recurring, the application requires a dependable prime-rated power solution capable of running regularly and for extended periods.
The installation includes eight Baudouin 4M10G2D0-S PowerKit engines, integrated into generator sets by New Way Power.
Each unit provides 65 kVA of prime-rated power, giving the full installation a combined output of 520 kVA.
This power configuration provides the margin required to start and operate 30 kW electric frost fan motors, while also supporting controls and auxiliary systems.
The Baudouin 4M10 platform offers the right balance of responsiveness, compactness and fuel efficiency for agricultural applications where reliability is critical.
The Baudouin 4M10G2D0-S engine is a 4.1-litre, 4-cylinder diesel engine designed for dependable operation in demanding environments.
Its straightforward design and mechanical fuel system with electronic governing support reliable cold starts and stable frequency under variable load.
This is particularly important for frost protection, where the gensets must start and operate dependably during cold nights, often in remote agricultural locations.
The compact footprint of the engine also simplifies packaging and deployment across orchard sites.
New Way Power, a leading South African OEM for bespoke prime and standby power solutions, supplied and assembled the generator sets locally.
By integrating Baudouin 4M10 engines into the genset package, New Way Power delivered a solution adapted to the needs of agricultural frost mitigation.
This local integration helped ensure that the system matched the farm’s operating profile, seasonal usage pattern and resilience requirements.
Baudouin’s PowerKit range is a key differentiator behind the project’s reliability and economic performance.
The range spans from small agricultural gensets to large industrial installations, giving OEMs like New Way Power a consistent engine platform across multiple applications.
Baudouin PowerKit engines are engineered for easy servicing, extended maintenance intervals and low specific fuel consumption. These factors help reduce lifetime cost and downtime, which is critical in remote, time-sensitive operations such as frost protection.
With strong support and competitive prime power warranties, Baudouin provides growers with a pragmatic power solution when crop protection matters most.
Talk to our experts and secure reliable power for your business.