Acres of Ice

Our mission is to promote holistic water management in mountain regions through nature-based technologies like ice reservoirs.

[Acres of Ice @AcresofIce]

Building a climate-tech startup in the harsh winter conditions of Ladakh is no joke. Our founders had little hope that we would last this long, but, still they invested most of their savings. Learn more:

https://t.co/zwOqylKaDV

[Outlook Business @outlookbusiness]

High in the Himalayas, a startup is creating automated ice reservoirs to irrigate fields during the region’s driest months.

With over a quarter of the world’s population depending on Himalayan water sources, conserving glaciers is key to global water security.

“We're developing new tools like glacial lake outburst flood mitigation services tailored to various regions,” says Afzal. “It's exciting to see global interest from high-altitude nations facing challenges similar to Ladakh.”

Read the full story: https://t.co/ou9leqOaQh

Grab the May issue on Amazon: https://t.co/St35oEEkiD

@acresofice

#AcresOfIce #IceStupas #AutomatedIceReservoirs #SonamWangchuk #OutlookBusiness #Ladakh

[Acres of Ice @AcresofIce]

Hoping for a continued partership with @JainIrrigation for the water security and climate resilience in mountain communities!

[Jain Irrigation @JainIrrigation]

Jain HDPE Pipes: Built for Extremes, Proven in Ladakh! ❄️💧
When nature tests, Jain HDPE Pipes deliver. In the harsh winter, our pipes played a crucial role in creating Artificial Ice Reservoirs in Ladakh. The same pipes are, standing strong against extreme temperatures and proving their durability, flexibility, and reliability in the toughest conditions.

Partnering with @AcresofIce a Ladakh-based startup automating and scaling the construction of these Artificial Ice Reservoirs, our pipes are helping high-altitude villages fight water scarcity. Their sites, located between 3300 to 4500 meters elevation, face extreme weather, yet Jain HDPE Pipes continue to perform flawlessly. The data-backed system ensures maximum efficiency in water-to-ice conversion, making every drop count.

From frozen landscapes to sustainable solutions, Jain HDPE Pipes keep the flow going—year after year! 🌍💙

#jainirrigation #jainpipes #acresofice #ladakh #watermanagement #icestupa #hdpe #pipes #highaltitude #strong #articifical #ice #waterscarcity

[Acres of Ice @AcresofIce]

We are proud to announce that our automated ice reservoir system, which exemplifies sustainable adaptation & climate resilience in Ladakh's trans-Himalayan region, has won the 2024 Mountain Future Award presented by the Mountain Partnership of the United Nations!

[Acres of Ice @AcresofIce]

We successfully installed our automation system in Ayee village, Nubra Valley. Three fountains are now spraying water, and with the recent cold temperatures, ice has finally started to form.

This year's project is funded by @NABARDOnline

[Acres of Ice @AcresofIce]

The fountain is an important aspect of ice reservoir construction. How water is sprayed, the area it covers & the size of the water particles all determine how water transform into ice. Our fountains are all 3D printed in-house, giving us complete control of this process.

[Acres of Ice @AcresofIce]

As winter arrives in Ladakh, we are entering our busiest season. We are testing the latest versions of our system at Igoo to ensure everything operates smoothly. Over the next several weeks, we are excited to roll out installations to 7 new villages! Stay tuned for updates!

[Acres of Ice @AcresofIce]

The mountains around us received their first snow two weeks ago, marking the onset of winter. Nights are reaching 0°C & the ground is covered with frost every morning. Our automation systems have already caught these cold weather windows & the ice reservoir is beginning to form!

[Acres of Ice @AcresofIce]

Our entire team made it to Igoo to prepare for the new season of AIR construction. After 9 hours of installing & testing various systems at the site, we managed to make some significant progress. With some final adjustments, we will be fully prepared for the winter ahead!

[Acres of Ice @AcresofIce]

This past week, our team visited Zanskar & conducted some preliminary site visits around Padum to assess the feasibility of AIR construction. We visited four villages: Kumik & Stongde on the glacier-fed north-facing slopes and Sedho & Rejing on the spring-fed south-facing slopes.

[Acres of Ice @AcresofIce]

Our ongoing field visits to potential sites for automated ice reservoir (AIR) construction this coming winter are going well. Last week, we visited five villages in Nubra Valley on both the Panamik and Hunder sides. Of the five villages, Youlkham and Kuri seem the most viable.

[Acres of Ice @AcresofIce]

We have started field visits to potential sites in preparation for automated ice reservoir construction this coming winter. This week, we visited two villages, Likir (glacial-fed) and Umla (spring fed). We wish to support ice reservoir construction in 11 villages this winter.

[Nidhi Jamwal @JamwalNidhi]

Bet you have heard of ice stupas in Ladakh, but are you aware of an innovation — an automated ice reservoir — in which sensors, valves & a control panel ‘automatically’ control its functioning for high efficiency? How?Read my report in @MongabayIndia

👉🏽 https://t.co/Psfm7GwYzp

[Acres of Ice @AcresofIce]

Thanks @MongabayIndia for this feature! Read on to find out how we enabled village ownership of their glacial water resources through our automation kits

[Mongabay India @MongabayIndia]

Ladakh is testing out an automated ice reservoir!
Built by @AcresofIce, this reservoir converts sprinkled water into ice. In the summers, the 'ice stupa' starts to melt, and the water is diverted to farmlands for irrigation. ✒️@JamwalNidhi. @know_just_ice https://t.co/lTz3eQk72A

[Acres of Ice @AcresofIce]

District managers of @NABARDOnline from all regions of J&K and Ladakh visited the Ice reservoir at Igoo. The team gained an understanding of how artificial glaciers provide water security for the village, they also had an insight into how automation systems enable building them.

[Acres of Ice @AcresofIce]

This lake is not an exception. There are around 3000 such lakes growing across Ladakh as their glacial source shrinks. We plan to survey this lake to better understand how it influences the hydrology of the watershed for Igoo and assess the risk of it to cause floods in Igoo.

[Acres of Ice @AcresofIce]

At around 5300 m asl in Igoo village, is a holy lake for the villagers. It is approximately 200m long and is fed by a small glacier < 1.5 square kilometres. This is a significant source of water that feeds the stream that flows through the village.

[Acres of Ice @AcresofIce]

📣 Exciting update! 🌎 @SolveMIT has revealed the semifinalists for its 2024 Global Challenges!! Automated Ice Reservoirs(AIRs) has become a semifinalist out of 2200+ applicants, and if chosen, our team will move forward to the finalist round next month! #SolveChallenges2024

[Acres of Ice @AcresofIce]

Montage of visitors to our thriving glacial ecosystem this spring...

[Acres of Ice @AcresofIce]

Behind the scenes with our team! 💪🔧 From realigning pipelines to upgrading fountain systems and enhancing automation software, here's a glimpse of our productive day at the site! #TeamWork #Engineering #Innovation

[Acres of Ice @AcresofIce]

While the rest of India is experiencing a heatwave, life in Igoo is flourishing. In May, our weather station recorded an avg temp of 6.5°C (max: 10.3°C & min: -1.1°C), and farming is in full swing. The village is benefitting from the AIR & the fields are already looking greener!