A British company, Real Ice, is pioneering a novel approach to combat climate change by creating Arctic ice using hydrogen-powered underwater drones. With scientists predicting ice-free summers in the Arctic by 2035, this initiative could be a game changer.
The Arctic faces a critical situation due to the ice-albedo feedback loop, where reduced ice leads to increased solar absorption, accelerating warming. Real Ice's innovative drone drills holes in existing ice to spray seawater, which freezes and forms thicker layers of ice.
Project leader Ceccolini states that this technique could enhance ice growth by flooding and freezing the insulating snow layer typically found on sea ice. Although still in development, this method holds promise for actively cooling our environment.
However, significant challenges remain. The technology must demonstrate effectiveness in larger tests, secure necessary funding for large-scale production, and operate in the harsh Arctic conditions.
In January, Real Ice successfully created about 1,000 tons of new ice in a football field-sized area, marking the first use of a hydrogen fuel cell-powered water pump. If future tests confirm the method's efficiency during summer months, Real Ice's project could provide a viable solution to Arctic ice melt.
The ultimate goal is to achieve sufficient ice thickness to prevent complete melting in warmer months, offering a potential global strategy against climate change.