Natural Resources and Energy Paper Essay Example for Free

Natural Resources and Energy Paper Essay Wind Power and Global Role The world has been using wind energy for over 100 years now to generate power. â€Å"The first known use was in 5000 BC when people used sails to navigate the Nile River† (Alternative Energy, 2008-2012). Beginning in the early 1900’s, wind mills were used to pump groundwater in Midwestern portions of the country primarily. Today, windmill technological advances have brought about the development of powerful wind turbines and sophisticated windmill farms across the country. In many cases, the development of these devises has caused a decline in generating cost resulting in wind energy competitive with several other conventional sources of electricity. Today, wind is one of the leading sources of electricity beating out coal; coal can cause health issues as wind does not. Wind power has been the fastest growing energy source and some people are saying that is the reasoning behind the Global Warming Effect. There is talk already that in the next thirty to forty years the world’s energy will have to come from wind, solar or some other renewable resource. Wind power is used globally and plays several different roles in different areas of the world. Most areas though are using the same types of equipment for the energy resource, which are the windmills and turbines. In these different areas the climate control will control the amount of wind power being produced. In the hotter areas that have less wind are definitely not going to produce the same amo Alternative energy, Capacunts of wind energy as places that are in the windy areas like Seattle and Chicago. So from a geographical stand point, if someone is looking to generate m ass quantities of energy from wind, then being in Arizona is not going to be a good choice. Growing Human Population The population in terms of its affect on wind energy has very little effect on wind power production for one reason and one reason only. That is because winds are a direct result of the `uneven heating of the earth’s surface by solar radiation. So technically they are just another source of solar energy. There are still some major deficiencies of Wind power. Wind is not a constant source of energy at a particular place. Wind cannot be concentrated in one location, so that it will take up an enormous amount of space to create an equal amount of wind energy. And finally, once the energy is produced by the wind storing the energy becomes a major concern, meaning how you disperse the energy gathered effectively to the population. Only recently has wind power spread across the country as a somewhat viable source of power with the global initiatives to create and produce alternative energies. The Wind Farms were primarily used in California and recently spread out across the United States. There are some benefits of this energy such as agricultural, rural land use, pastures as well as farmers to use wind power in land open areas. Winds are probably never going to be the main or considered as a major energy producer for this country or for the world for several reasons. The population uses a huge amount of its energies. Because the way that wind energy is created, it has a role in our energy cycle but is reduced because it does not produce the end product energy. The wind is converted into electricity an d is a secondary source. Wind used with another source of energy, such as fission being the byproduct of another source of energy could generate several other improvements on different energy sources as well as decreasing the amounts of pressure on current energy sources may be a better and cost-effective approach to using wind energy. The problem with wind power and population is that wind power is not as efficient as our typical fossil fuels and has lower thermal dynamic potential to create the energy needed by the growing population. Another reason is as stated earlier the vast amount of space needed to create the power already effects the population. Most wind farms are in land masses that have already been cleared away, which limits the location. There are pluses and minuses to these areas. The land is usually prepared and cleared in advance so it can be used for farming and other industrial uses. At the same time of harvesting the wind power, some of the concerns would be the noise pollution that comes with a wind farm. Any type of populated area would be unbearable to endure. The population effects on wind energy are in reverse. The growing population does not have an effect on the production of wind energy other than the materials needed in its construction, the removal of large amounts of trees, and the loss of birds because of the blades over time. It seems as though we may be doing more damage than good for the return of energy that would be needed to support the population. Risks and Benefits of Renewable Energy Renewable energy resources are sustainable resources that replenish naturally. Such resources are produced from the sun, wind, biomass, tides, and geothermal. The main advantage of renewable resources is that the source is readily available and would never run out. Other important benefits include reducing contributions to global warming and with no polluting emissions. The disadvantages of using renewable energy is the expensive initial cost for setup, the difficulty to achieve the energy requirements needed, and the maintenance on the equipment. Depending on the application, the risks and benefits will vary when using the energy resource. Wind power is an electric energy obtained from surface air currents caused by the solar warming of air. Wind energy is a clean and cost-efficient way for energy. Wind power is placed in rural areas and requires constant wind (at least 15 mph) to operate. The wind turbines are most effective on high grounds where wind speeds are greater. At times, the turbines may kill birds and bats that get in its way. Other risks and disadvantages of wind include the cost, the noise pollution, and the unreliability factor of wind (Clean Energy Ideas, 2012). Solar energy power converts sunlight for heating and generating electricity. Solar power is used in commercial and residential applications. In order for solar power to generate energy, an open area along with sunlight is a necessity to perform properly. The weather, the time of day, and pollution can affect the performance of solar panels. At times, space could be limited and trees would be cut to make room for placing the panels in areas for sufficient amount of energy. Because of lack of space, many solar panels are placed on top of the roof. Some people think the panels make the buildings and property unattractive (Clean Energy Ideas, 2012). Biomass fermentation is plant and animal materials used as fuel. Biomass produces ethanol from different materials such as corn, grains, wood, saw dust and wood chips, plants, and animal wastes. Biomass is easily available where plants and crops are grown. Most of the source is from plants that gather its energy from the sun. In addition, the source is used for heat production, electricity, and fuel for cars. Biomass requires burning of materials, which contributes to air pollution, but it produces less greenhouse gases compared to fossil fuels (EHow, 2012). Hydropower is created as water flows through rivers and streams, the dams convert the energy of water to kinetic energy as the water turns turbines to generate electricity. Hydropower is efficient with 90% of the energy consumed to electricity. The benefits include clean source of energy, availability, and the reservoir can be used for leisure (boating, fishing, and swimming) and irrigation purposes. On the other hand, the risks involve overflow which can destroy the plant vegetation in the process (Benefits of, 2012). Geothermal energy is extracted from the heat produ ced by the Earth’s core. For centuries, many places have been extracting the source for hot springs. Some areas have geothermal power plants to generate electricity. In other areas, ground source heat pumps are used to extract water for the home or business hot water supply, which helps to reduce energy costs. The disadvantage is that a large area is needed to run the piping system (Clean Energy Ideas, 2012). Conclusion As the human population increases, the demand for energy will increase as well. There is much debate for the preferred choice of energy. Wind and other renewable energy resources are a clear alternative if we want to have a sustainable future for our children. Comparing the factors, the advantages with the use of renewable energy outweighs the risks and disadvantages. Although the initial cost will be expensive, the energy used will pay for itself in the long run. Reducing air pollution, contributing less to global warming, and reserving nonrenewable energy resources are just a few benefits with the use of renewable energy as an alternative. References Alternative Energy. (2008-2012). Retrieved from http://www.altenergy.org/ Benefits of (September, 2012). Benefits of Hydropower. Retrieved from http://benefitof.net Clean Energy Ideas (September, 2012). Natural and Renewable Energy Sources. Retrieved from http://www.clean-energy-ideas.com EHow (September, 2012). Advantages and Disadvantages of Biomass Energy. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com

To compare The Charge of the Light Brigade with The Destruction of Essa

To compare The Charge of the Light Brigade with The Destruction of Sennacherib In this essay we are going to be comparing two war poems. They are ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ by Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) and ‘The Destruction of Sennacherib’ by Lord Byron (1788-1824). ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ is set in the Crimean war. It is about the British cavalry getting the wrong orders and going straight at the enemy’s cannons. ‘The Destruction of Sennacherib’ is a biblical story. The story tells us about a whole army being wiped out really quickly as they slept by the ‘Angel of Death’. The first poem we are going to look at is ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ by Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892). In this poem Tennyson describes the valley that the cavalry had to gallop along as ‘The Valley of Death’. This makes you think that as they go along the valley the soldiers will die. He describes the soldiers as heroic and he admires their courage because the soldiers did not question their orders even though they were likely to be killed. To emphasise this ..

Medical Education Essay

Working together as an interdisciplinary team, many highly trained health professionals besides medical practitioners are involved in the delivery of modern health care. Examples include: nurses, emergency medical technicians and paramedics, laboratory scientists, pharmacists, physician assistants, podiatrists physiotherapists, respiratory therapists,speech therapists, occupational therapists, radiographers, dietitians, and bioengineers. The scope and sciences underpinning human medicine overlap many other fields. Dentistry, while considered by some a separate discipline from medicine, is a medical field. A patient admitted to hospital is usually under the care of a specific team based on their main presenting problem, e.g., the Cardiology team, who then may interact with other specialties, e.g., surgical, radiology, to help diagnose or treat the main problem or any subsequent complications/developments. Physicians have many specializations and subspecializations into certain branches of medicine, which are listed below. There are variations from country to country regarding which specialties certain subspecialties are in. The main branches of medicine are: ââ€" ª Basic sciences of medicine; this is what every physician is educated in, and some return to in biomedical research. ââ€" ª Medical specialties ââ€" ª Interdisciplinary fields, where different medical specialties are mixed to function in certain occasions. [pic] ââ€" ª Anatomy is the study of the physical structure of organisms. In contrast to macroscopic or gross anatomy, cytology and histology are concerned with microscopic structures. ââ€" ª Biochemistry is the study of the chemistry taking place in living organisms, especially the structure and function of their chemical components. ââ€" ª Biomechanics is the study of the structure and function of biological systems by means of the methods of Mechanics. ââ€" ª Biostatistics is the application of statistics to biological fields in the broadest sense. A knowledge of biostatistics is essential in the planning, evaluation, and interpretation of medical research. It is also fundamental to epidemiology and evidence-based medicine. ââ€" ª Biophysics is an interdisciplinary science that uses the methods of physics and physical chemistry to study biological systems. ââ€" ª Cytology is the microscopic study of individual cells. ââ€" ª Embryology is the study of the early development of organisms. ââ€" ª Endocrinology is the study of hormones and their effect throughout the body of animals. ââ€" ª Epidemiology is the study of the demographics of disease processes, and includes, but is not limited to, the study of epidemics. ââ€" ª Genetics is the study of genes, and their role in biological inheritance. ââ€" ª Histology is the study of the structures of biological tissues by light microscopy, electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. ââ€" ª Immunology is the study of the immune system, which includes the innate and adaptive immune system in humans, for example. ââ€" ª Medical physics is the study of the applications of physics principles in medicine. ââ€" ª Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, including protozoa, bacteria, fungi, and viruses. ââ€" ª Molecular biology is the study of molecular underpinnings of the process of replication, transcription and translation of the genetic material. ââ€" ª Neuroscience includes those disciplines of science that are related to the study of the nervous system. A main focus of neuroscience is the biology and physiology of the human brain and spinal cord. Some related clinical specialties include neurology, neurosurgery andpsychiatry. ââ€" ª Nutrition science (theoretical focus) and dietetics (practical focus) is the study of the relationship of food and drink to health and disease, especially in determining an optimal diet. Medical nutrition therapy is done by dietitians and is prescribed for diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, weight and eating disorders, allergies, malnutrition, and neoplastic diseases. ââ€" ª Pathology as a science is the study of disease—the causes, course, progression and resolution thereof. [pic] Ever wonder why physics is important in the field of medicine? Well, there are numerous reasons why it is very vital to this field. One reason is â€Å"medical physics†, it is one of the branches of physics. Medical physics is a branch of applied physics concerning the application ofphysics to medicine. It generally concerns physics as applied to medical imaging and radiotherapy. And what is medical imaging? Medical imaging refers to the techniques and processes used to create images of the human body (or parts thereof) for clinical purposes (medical procedures seeking to reveal,diagnose or examine disease) or medical science (including the study of normal anatomy and function. Under this are the following: – An MRI scan – Diagnostic radiology, including x-rays, fluoroscopy, mammography, Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, angiography and Computed tomography – Ultrasound, including intravascular ultrasound – Non-ionising radiation (Lasers, Ultraviolet etc.) – Nuclear medicine, including SPECT and positron emission tomography (PET) – Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and other methods for functional neuroimaging of the brain. For example, nuclear magnetic resonance (often referred to as magnetic resonance imaging to avoid the common concerns about radiation), uses the phenomenon of nuclear resonance to image the human body. – Magnetoencephalography – Electrical impedance tomography – Diffuse optical imaging – Optical coherence tomography Through Physics we nurses are able to treat diseases. Treatment of disease: – Defibrillation – High intensity focussed ultrasound, including lithotripsy – Interventional radiology – Non-ionising radiation Lasers, Ultraviolet etc. including photodynamic therapyand LASIK – Nuclear medicine, including unsealed source radiotherapy – Photomedicine, the use of light to treat and diagnose disease – Radiotherapy – Sealed source radiotherapy – Terahertz radiation Through physics we are also able to understand the part of the body especially the brain. ECG trace Used to monitor and measure various physiological parameters. Many physiological measurement techniques are non-invasive and can be used in conjunction with, or as an alternative to, other invasive methods. – Electrocardiography – Electromyography – Electroencephalography – Electronystagmography – Endoscopy – Medical ultrasonography – Non-ionising radiation (Lasers, Ultraviolet etc.) – Near infrared spectroscopy -Pulse oximetry Blood gas monitor Blood pressure measurement You see Physics is a great help in the field of medicine without it, we are not able to enjoy what we are enjoying in terms of treating our diseases. Chemistry is a huge part of medicine, not only do you need an understanding of it to become a doctor, but it is also both a diagnostic and treatment tool. The importance of chemistry lies in developing and testing new medical treatments and medicines. Without it doctors would not understand how vitamins, supplements, and drugs can help or harm you. Chemistry departments in hospital medical labs play an important and valuable role. Analyzing substances such as blood and urine, for proteins, sugars and other metabolic and inorganic substances. They are able to look for problems such as diabetes, therefore offering an early prognosis and cure to potentially life threatening diseases. Medical Technology extends and improves life. It alleviates pain, injury and handicap. Its role in healthcare is essential. Incessant medical technology innovation enhances the quality and effectiveness of care. Billions of patients worldwide depend on medical technology at home, at the doctor’s, at hospital and in nursing homes. Wheelchairs, pacemakers, orthopedic shoes, spectacles and contact lenses, insulin pens, hip prostheses, condoms, oxygen masks, dental floss, MRI scanners, pregnancy tests, surgical instruments, bandages, syringes, life-support machines: more than 500,000 products (10,000 generic groups) are available today. Medical technology represents only 6,3% of total healthcare expenditure in Europe – a modest share if you consider the benefits for every member of society. The term medical technology may also refer to the duties performed by clinical laboratory professionals in various settings within the public and private sectors. The work of these professionals encompass clinical applications of chemistry, genetics, hematology, immunohematology (blood banking), immunology, microbiology, serology, urinalysis and miscellaneous body fluid analysis. These professionals may be referred to as Medical Technologists (MT) and Medical Laboratory Technologists. Pharmacy which is from the Greek word Pharmakeia φÎ ±Ã ÃŽ ¼ÃŽ ±ÃŽ ºÃŽ µÃŽ ¹ÃŽ ± is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs. The Greek: φÎ ¬Ã ÃŽ ¼ÃŽ ±ÃŽ ºÃŽ ¿ÃŽ ½ (pharmakon), means â€Å"drug† or â€Å"medicine† (the earliest form of the word is the Mycenaean Greek pa-ma-ko, attested in Linear B syllabic script). The scope of pharmacy practice includes more traditional roles such as compounding and dispensing medications, and it also includes more modern services related to health care, including clinical services, reviewing medications for safety and efficacy, and providing drug information. Pharmacists, therefore, are the experts on drug therapy and are the primary health professionals who optimize medication use to provide patients with positive health outcomes. An establishment in which pharmacy (in the first sense) is practiced is called a pharmacy, chemist’s or drug store. In the United States and Canada, drug stores commonly sell not only medicines, but also miscellaneous items such as candy (sweets), cosmetics, and magazines, as well as light refreshments or groceries. The word pharmacy is derived from its root word pharma which was a term used since the 15th–17th centuries. In addition to pharma responsibilities, the pharma offered general medical advice and a range of services that are now performed solely by other specialist practitioners, such as surgery and midwifery. The pharma (as it was referred to) often operated through a retail shop which, in addition to ingredients for medicines, sold tobacco and patent medicines. The pharmas also used many other herbs not listed. In its investigation of herbal and chemical ingredients, the work of the pharma may be regarded as a precursor of the modern sciences of chemistry and pharmacology, prior to the formulation of the scientific method. What is covered in the BS of Pharmacy program? BS of Pharmacy covers subjects that offer a solid foundation in biomedical, clinical, pharmaceutical, biological and social sciences. This is to ensure that students are trained to effective deliver pharmaceutical services in both private and government institutions.

Quadratic Function Changes in the Parabola

Analysis Of Frost s Poem Frost - 1212 Words

This was not a coincidence. The irony utilized by Frost clearly contributes to the overall theme of design governing situations on earth. Frost also utilizes tone to emphasize the horrific nature of the scene while speaking in a seemingly light manner. Frost’s diction can be divided into two major categories: whimsical and light, and dark. This contrast contributes to the irony of the scene as well. Specific word choices in the octave show this clearly. Frost employs light, pleasant, and whimsical words like â€Å"dimpled,† â€Å"fat,† â€Å"snow-drop,† â€Å"froth,† and â€Å"kite† (7). These seem to set a tone reminiscent of a nursery rhyme; however, these are combined with other words that have dark and evil connotations. These include â€Å"rigid,† â€Å"death,†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦show more content†¦The narrator begins to analyze and question the scene that he is viewing, and begins to relate it to concepts like fate, design and supernatural control. The tone of the sestet can be identified through the questions the narrator asks. The first question is of annoyance and slight confusion. The flower is the subject of this confusion. As a heal-all, its proper color is blue, and should not have been white. This is the first clue that suggests the involvement of something other than random chance. The blue had been cast aside and forgotten, and the narrator views the flower as innocent. It had been implicated in such an awful event by no fault of its own. This raises the question of whose fault it actually was. The next seems harsh and sinister, questioning what force or chance brought the spider to the top of the flower, and then why the moth flew straight into its grasps. Height normally shows superiority, but in this context, it is negative. The evil spider is high up on a mutated flower, in the perfect place at the perfect time to catch dinner. It seems hard to believe that random chance brought the spider to that particular flower. The next part of the question concerns the moth and what force caused it to come into contact with the spider and flower. The identical color of the flower, moth, and spider further contributes evidence to the conclusion that this situation

Essay on Legal and Ethical Issues in School Counseling

The topic of this paper focuses on the battles school counselors face as the law and ethical standards collide. School counselors face a number of legal and ethical issues and recognizing a clear decision isn’t always easy. School counselors have to work with a large number of students, parents, and administrators while conforming to ethical codes, state laws, and school board guidelines. This topic is of great relevance to me as I will be going into the school counseling profession. It is also a meaningful topic to me because life-changing decisions are made every day in reference to legal and ethical issues. Researching this topic has shed some light on the difficulty for school counselors to fulfill both legal and ethical†¦show more content†¦N.W. eventually resigned and filed a civil rights lawsuit in federal court stating that the administrations actions resulted in her forced resignation, violating her First Amendment right. After a two year process of legal proceedings, N.W. lost the case in the Supreme Court. The ruling was â€Å"First Amendment freedom of expression does not protect statements that public employees make pursuant to their official duties, as compared with those they make as citizens on matters of public concern† (Stone, Zirkel 2010). N.W. was excluded from First Amendment protection due to the court concluding that she was performing the duties she was paid to perform while reporting her concerns. This particular case illustrates a court trend in favor of school districts when involving educational litigation against professional educators, including school counselors (Stone, Zirkel 2010). This trend suggests that school counselors should think carefully before exercising their personal or professional beliefs, unless they estimate no employment discipline by their superiors. The point is that there is a very fine line between performing your duties without legal ramifications. 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Financial Position Comparison of AGL Energy and Genesis Energy

Question: Discuss the Financial Position Comparison of AGL Energy and Genesis Energy. Answer: Introduction About AGL Energy AGL Energy Ltd. is based out of Sydney, Australia and majorly operates as an integrated renewable energy provider. The company provides gas, electricity, related products and solar PV in Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. The company is involved in buying and selling of the above products, along which it also has power generation facilities, explores and extracts natural gas and has gas storage facilities. The power generation includes thermal power generation and other renewable resources like hydro, solar, wind and biomass. The company caters to both homes and businesses. About Genesis Energy Genesis Energy Ltd. is also an energy and gas provider. The company operates majorly in New Zealand and provides energy solutions and services. The company is involved in buying and selling of electricity and gas and generation of electricity which include the traditional thermal and other renewable resources. The company also explores produces and sells LPG, gas and light oil. It caters to both residential and commercial customers providing customised electricity and LPG pricing solutions to the business houses. Financial Statements Review The financial statements include balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statements which indicate the financial position of the company. The major items of the statements have been analysed to ascertain the financial position. AGL Energy % change Genesis % change Amount in $ million 2014 2015 2014 2015 Revenue 10445 10678 2.2% 2005 2097.6 4.6% Net Profit 570 218 -61.8% 49.2 104.8 113.0% Total Assets 14134 15833 12.0% 3629.4 3528 -2.8% Total Liabilities 6546 7018 7.2% 1748.7 1702.6 -2.6% Equity 7588 8815 16.2% 1880.7 1825.4 -2.9% Cash from Operation 699 1044 49.4% 303.9 318.5 4.8% The revenue of AGL Energy has increased by a mere 2.2% which is on account of low revenue from natural gas. The energy industry is very competitive and hence it is difficult to garner a higher market share. The net profit has reduced considerably in 2015 but that is due to extraordinary expenses like impairment of assets for $600 million and transaction costs of acquiring Macquarie Generation assets for $153 million. This has increased the operating expenses. If we look at the underlying profit, it has increased by 12% to $630 million. The total assets of the company have increased by 12% as the company has acquired new plant and equipment and also oil and gas assets in 2015. The total liabilities increased a as a result of borrowings for acquiring Macquarie assets and pay for other capital expenditures. However, the company also repaid some part of its long term loans. The total equity has increased due to issue of equity. There is an increase in cash from operation by almost 50% on account of lower payments as compared to receipts as the creditors have increased thus increasing the cash flow. The total revenue of Genesis Energy has also increased by a meagre 4.6%. This is due to lower international oil prices and lower electricity customers than expected. However, we see that the profit has increased by more than 100%. This is due to the unexpected gains on fair value of financial instruments resulting from low wholesale electricity prices and a reduction in finance expense. If we look at the EBIDTAF, the net profit has increased by 12%. The total assets has reduced by 3% whereas the total assets have fallen by 2.6% due to repayment of long term loan, however the company has taken additional short term loan. The cash from operation has increased by approx 5% due to lower capital expenditure and reduced finance expenses. Ratio Analysis AGL Energy Genesis Energy 2014 2015 2014 2015 Profitability Return on Assets =570/14134 4.1% =218/15833 1.5% =49/3629 1.3% =104/3528 2.9% Net Profit Margin =570/10445 5.5% =218/10678 2.0% =49/2005 2.5% =104/2097 5% Liquidity Current Ratio =3411/2166 1.6 =3459/2373 1.5 =357/246 1.4 =-346/309 1.1 Quick Ratio =(3411-191)/2166 1.5 =(3459-396)/2373 1.3 =(357-93)/246 1.1 =(346-80)/309 0.9 Capital Structure Debt to Equity =6546/7588 86.3% =7018/8815 79.6% =1748/1880 93% =1702/1825 93.3% Equity ratio =7588/14134 53.7% =8815/15833 55.7% =1880/3629 51.8% =1825/3528 51.7% Market Performance Earnings per share =570/580.2 0.98 =218/653.7 0.33 =49.2/999.9 0.05 =104.8/999.5 0.1 Dividend per share =269/580.2 0.46 =344/653.7 0.53 =121/999.9 0.12 =145.9/999.5 0.15 Profitability The return on assets of AGL has gone down in 2015 due to a decrease in net profits. The profits are low due to high asset impairment costs. Also the profit margin has reduced in 2015 for the same reason. The total assets and revenue have increased but the decrease in profits is higher as such the profitability of the company has gone down. Both the net profit margin and return on assets has increased for Genesis in 2015 due to abnormal profits arising from gains on fair value of financial instruments. The profits are not as a result of regular business operations. Since AGL Energy has seen abnormal loss and Genesis has experienced abnormal profits, the profitability of Genesis seems higher, but if EBIDTAF were to be taken into consideration, AGL Energy would have higher profitability. AGL has higher revenue and total assets in absolute terms. Liquidity The current ratio has decreased very slightly for AGL Energy in 2015. This is due to an increase in current liabilities in the form of borrowings. However, the ratio is within the ideal limits. Even the quick ratio is more than 1 which means the company does not have much funds tied in inventory and can be said to be quite liquid. Both current ratio and quick ratio have decreased for Genesis. This is due to an increase in current liabilities and a decrease in current assets. The company has undertaken short term loan to repay its long term debts. AGL energy has a better liquidity than Genesis. Capital Structure The debt to equity ratio of AGL has reduced by approx 6% to 80%. This is due to an increase in equity and decrease in long term borrowings. However, the company has more debt than equity and can be considered to have a risky capital structure. The equity ratio has increased in 2015 to 55.7% signifying more than 50% of the assets being financed by equity. The company has reduced its dependence on debt to some extent. The debt to equity ratio for Genesis is as high as 93%. The company is highly risky with more debt than equity. 50% of its total assets are financed by equity and 50% by debt. However, the total debt is 93% of the total capital structure. The capital structure has not changed from 2014 to 2015. AGL is more stable than Genesis. Market Performance The EPS for AGL Energy has reduced considerably in 2015 owing to very low profits. Also the total outstanding shares have increased in 2015 resulting in a lower EPS. The dividend per share has increased due to increase in dividends paid. Even though the company has experienced low profits, but due to strong cash flow, it has been able to pay higher dividends, thus increasing the return of shareholder. The EPS for Genesis is very low at 5 cents in 2014 has increased in 2015 to 10 cents as a result of extraordinary profits earned. The number of outstanding shares has remained the same. The dividend per share has increased slightly to 15 cents in 2015 due to an increase in dividends paid. AGL has a better market performance as it has higher EPS and dividend per share in spite of lower profits as compared to Genesis Energy. Conclusion The ratios calculated above provide a clear picture of the financial performance of both the companies for the years 2014 and 2015 and how the companies have improved or worsened in 2015 as compared to the previous years. However, one cannot depend entirely on the ratios calculated from the annual reports because AGL has prepared the accounts on the basis of AASB whereas Genesis has prepared the accounts on the basis of New Zealand GAAP so the accounting policies used may be different. The qualitative aspects like environment and social responsibility have not been considered in the analysis. Recommendation On the basis of the ratio analysis conducted above, it is clearly advisable to a potential investor to invest in AGL Energy Limited as the company has better liquidity, stability in the capital structure and a better market performance. The profitability of Genesis may seem better on the face of it, however the profits are extraordinary and not from the normal business operations, hence on the basis of EBIDTAF, AGL has a better profitability. The investor can expect to have higher returns from AGL since it pays higher dividends. Reference AGL Energy, (2015), AGL Annual Report 2015 Genesis Energy, (2015), Genesis Energy Annual Report 2015 Finance.yahoo, (2016), AGL Energy Limited, accessed online on 22nd August, 2015, available at https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/AGL.AX/profile?p=AGL.AX Finance.yahoo, (2016), Genesis Energy LP, accessed online on 22nd August, 2015, available at https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/GEL/profile?p=GEL