There 9,000 million tons of gold dissolved in the sea. And even larger quantities of uranium metal or almost anything that interests us. The problem is that they are dissolved. Its extraction is not profitable because the energy cost is excessive. And something similar may end up going to oil and other energy sources.
is amazing to watch the giant oil rigs able to drill for oil at great depth. As Petronius 
. A platform more than 600 feet anchored and 43,000 tons of weight that is anchored in a seabed located 500 meters below. We are working on wells to extract oil at between 3000 and 5000 meters deep. Even studies are conducted to find and extract oil in three thousand meters of water and five miles of seabed . But the energy cost of drilling to this depth is high. And when the oil starts to dry up usual pump water to help remove it. The result is that, in recent years, the ratio between the energy extracted and used in the process has fallen from 25 to 1 to only 15 to 1 . It's called "return energy investment "and may be a more important than simple economic efficiency. The problem is not just that oil runs out or becomes more expensive. If energy costs continue to rise may be better left in the ground to try it out. 
One promising alternative is to extract heavy oil that permeates some geological formations in Canada and elsewhere. It is estimated that there are about a trillion barrels of oil . However, they have a worse ratio. Only 4 to 1 . And its operation, open pit mining giant, has environmental costs and vast landscape. This problem is not just oil or fossil fuels. The first solar panels produce less energy
, throughout its life, it is necessary to make them. Made sense in a satellite as a "lightweight batteries." Or in an isolated house counting the saving wiring and installations from the grid. But in other applications, more harm than good to the environment. Currently, the panels have improved a lot and this ratio varies from 4 to 1, in the worst cases, up from 17 to 1 , in locations with sufficient sunlight. Right now there are be far more profitable than oil and this will improve in the coming years. But do not forget that lesson. Install a wind turbine or solar panel where they will not produce enough energy can be more harmful than beneficial to our environment. There were some very absurd and little green when multiplied subsidies for cogeneration. And this problem can be repeated. Even having good intentions can make mistakes. It is necessary to reckon, assess all the consequences and choose the best alternative. For example, save energy and avoid the need to generate.
Category: Physical
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