Wind Energy in the United States - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1656 Downloads: 8 Date added: 2019/08/08 Category Energy Industry Essay Level High school Topics: Wind Energy Essay Did you like this example? In 2018, a greater demand for renewable energy is encountered. Renewable energy sources are desirable as they do not have a finite limit or can be recycled, unlike fossil fuels. The main source of energy that has been used since the Industrial Revolution has been the burning of fossil fuels, which produces greenhouse gases. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Wind Energy in the United States" essay for you Create order The emission of greenhouse gases has played a major part in human-caused climate change. As our energy demand grows and our climate continues to change rapidly, an increased importance is placed upon the need for new/more efficient technology, as well as an increase in the amount of renewable energy being produced. In this paper, the value of wind as a renewable energy source is explored. Harnessing wind energy is not new to humans. Many ancient cultures were known to utilize wind power in some form or another. Windmills and turbines that produce energy have been in use since the 1800s (Ehrlich, 2017). The technology had slowly been improved upon, until the first large wind farms in the U.S. were installed in the 1980s (Kaldellis, 2011). Today, wind farms are seen across the entire country and in offshore sites. Wind energy is predicted to grow in the U.S., as the government released in a statement made in 2008 that wind would account for 20% of the countrys energy use (DOE, 2008). Wind energy has several advantages. First, wind power is extremely cost-effective. Land-based utility-scale wind is one of the lowest-priced energy sources available. The production of wind energy is cost-free as it does not require fuel as the burning of fossil fuels or some other renewable energy sources do. Wind is also a domestic source of sustainable energy, as each region has an abundant and inexhaustible supply (Ehrlich, 2017). The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) states that over the past 10 years in the U.S., wind power capacity increased over 30%. Wind now has the largest renewable generation capacity of all renewable energy sources in the U.S (2018). Wind is increasing more rapidly than any other renewable energy resource. Government support has made some of the expansion possible, but its principal attraction is wind powers inherent environmental attributes (Pasqualetti, 2010). Wind energy is a completely clean fuel source. It doesnt pollute the air like power plants that rely on combustion of fossil fuels. Coal or natural gas use emits greenhouse gases, like nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide, that can lead to human health problems. Downsides to this technology include changes to the environment around a wind farm. Initially, the wind farm will alter temperatures in the surrounding area and downwind of the farm. Overtime, however, the temperature change will be less drastic than the change that would have been expected from global warming. Bird deaths are also a side effect of wind farms. Environmental agencies advocate for the birds safety, but the number of bird deaths caused by wind farms are a small fraction of the total number of deaths caused by humans overall (Ehrlich, 2017). Some opposers to wind energy become upset with environmental changes, but not because of degradation to the land. Not in My Backyard (NIMBY) is a phrase used to describe person who will support an issue so long as it does not affect his or her day to day life in a seemingly negative way. Complaints from the public of aesthetic pollution keep wind turbine production down in populated areas. This is seen locally, where residents do not want to surrender their views to wind turbines. Wind technology requires a high initial start-up cost (Ehrlich, 2017). Though becoming less expensive with the introduction of new technologies, it is still more costly to purchase than the technology required for fossil fuel combustion. Where fossil fuel combustion can occur anywhere, the production and storage of wind energy is often forced into remote locations, where there is adequate land for a large wind farm. While wind is plentiful here, energy demand is low. Transferring energy to places with higher demand would require high voltage, expensive power lines. Wind is a variable energy source; it is always not readily available like other sources. Energy storage then becomes necessary, where power is produced and held for future use. Storing energy is costly, but it allows for utilization of energy during peak demand times. The main goal of wind turbine technology advancements is to increase efficiency and to reduce costs. The method that solves these issues is improving the energy capacity factors of wind turbines. This is one of the driving forces behind the size increase seen in turbines over the years with the other being increased level of wind availability the taller a turbine is. In the 1980s and 1990s, rotor diameters were under 20 meters wide. Modern turbines have diameters of 150 meters or more, with predictions of turbines being 250 meters in offshore farms (Ehrlich, 2017). The bigger the rotor, the more energy can be produced. With bigger rotors comes a whole new set of problems. The increase in stresses that a bigger rotor places on the wind turbine requires advancements in the technologys control system. Control system and gearbox improvements have led to greater turbine reliability (Power-Gen, 2014). To combat the supposed unaesthetically pleasing nature of wind turbines and the inability to supply wind produced energy to populated areas, cities around the world have invested in building-integrated wind turbines (Ehrlich, 2017). The wind turbine becomes part of the architecture and supplies power to the building. Initial building cost is high, but profit is possible as seen in Bahrain World Trade Center. There, the turbines produce 10-15% of the buildings energy need for less than 5% of the overall cost of the building. New buildings with integrated wind turbines are designed to maximize the winds power production. However, turbines added to preexisting buildings (on rooftops) can be manipulated to increase production as well, such as angling the blade downward to catch updraft from the building. The population of the United States makes up 5% of the global population, yet the country consumes 24% of global energy (EIA, 2017). The energy demand in the U.S. is comparatively higher than other nations (excluding China) and is projected to increase. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2017 saw a record high of renewable energy production, around 11 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) equal to 12.6% of the countrys overall energy production (2018). The total primary energy consumption in the U.S. for the same year was 97.7 quadrillion Btu. There are several states in the U.S. with wind classes of 3 and above (suitable for wind energy production) that have the combined potential to produce up to 80% of the countrys consumption (Elliot, 1993). This estimate excludes areas that are unsuitable for wind farms, such as parks or wetlands. The U.S. Department of Energys 2008 report 20% Wind Energy by 2030 predicted that wind power could supply 20% of all U.S. elec tric power, with the assumption that reliability and capacity factor technologies of turbines continued to improve. With the continued decrease in wind technology cost, it is likely that wind energy production will continue to expand, but without push from the public and the government, it is unlikely that potential for wind energy will be met in a timely manner. The federal government uses subsidies and incentives to stimulate utilization of renewable energy technologies. As with all energy projects, federal, state, local, and utility financial incentives are available for wind projects. Governmental financing of projects is an integral part of the successful implementation of utility-scale wind energy. Some wind-specific incentives the U.S. has used in the past include Production and Investment Tax Credits (PTC and ITC). Originally enacted in the Energy Policy Act of 1992, PTC is a production-based tax credit implemented to level the playing field between wind energy and the incentives provided to other energy sources. ITC provides a credit for investment costs at the start of a new wind project (Kaldellis, 2011). The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA or the Recovery Act) allowed wind projects to receive a cash grant of 30% of a projects capital costs instead of taking the PTC or ITC. The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 pro vided a 50% first-year depreciation cost provision for projects built between 2008 and 2010. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 extended the 50% bonus to projects through December 31, 2013 (Zafarikis et al, 2013). The Peoples Republic of China is the worlds leading producer of wind energy. 34% of global production occurs in China. China is also the top consumer of energy, with an estimated exponential growth in future energy demand (Ehrlich, 2017). It is imperative for Chinas economy to use sustainable energy sources that can fulfill the countrys colossal need. Coal still makes up the largest part of Chinas energy consumption but that is changing, and quicker than anticipated. China is on track to install the addition of 110.4 GW of onshore wind capacity to Chinas existing capacity (264 GW total) over the next three years, meaning that it would surpass the original target of 210 GW set during the 2016-2020 Five-Year Plan period. China is also predicted to have an offshore wind capacity of 26 GW by 2026 (Froese, 2017). Chinas aggressive push for clean, sustainable, affordable energy could possibly be influential enough to affect change throughout the world. The Stone Age did not end because humans ran out of stones; instead mankind transitioned to more effective and advanced solutions. The same opportunity is present in 2018 with energy efficiency and clean energy. The cost of the electricity produced from the clean energy source of wind by increasingly advanced turbines is competitive with conventional sources of energy, including fossil fuels. It is possible that without government involvement, it would take nearly half a century to reach combined renewable energy potential and energy goals set within the U.S. This is not quick enough to deal with issues concerning climate change. A growing interest in wind energy from the scientific, financial and public-policy communities, as well as the general public, is the only way to accelerate the transition to affordable, sustainable energy that will offer energy security and mitigate climate change.

Sociology-Social Class - 1065 Words

â€Å" I got to figure. We all got to figure. There’s some way to stop this. It’s not like lightening or earthquakes. We’ve got a bad thing made by man, and by God that’s something we can change.† John Steinbeck. This excerpt from Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath is talking about the ‘bad things’ that we deal with in our society. Two bad things that are extremely pressing in society today are the growing gap in the social class system and gender inequality. Both social class problems and gender inequality affect the way members of our society live their daily lives but are commonly overlooked or underestimated. Social Class is a way of categorizing households into groups of similar occupations, education levels and general income levels. The†¦show more content†¦A women who performs the same occupation as a man often receives a lower salary, even though they work the same job. Masculinity is something that we relate to be ing strong and powerful, where often Femininity can be seen as fragile. The United States is a capitalist patriarchy, this means that men hold power positions allowing them to to keep women in inferior roles, and because of this women are subject to discrimination in the workplace where they earn a lesser pay scale than that of men in equivalent jobs. Women in the work place are often seen as out of place. As a women in an engineering firm, my mother was criticized for returning to work after having a baby rather than staying on maternity leave. The men in her department felt as if a women should stay home from work to take care of the baby, because after all she was a mother and maternity leave is clearly for the mother and not the father. According to a study performed in 1972 by Weitzman, even picture books portray women in inferior roles. â€Å"Boys were active in outdoor activities while girls were passive and most often found indoors. The activity of the girls in some way ty pically was in service to the boys†. When we teach our children at such a young age that women are not as strong and important as men it makes it much harder to change the way our system works. Religion is also aShow MoreRelatedSocial Class Theory And Political Sociology1303 Words   |  6 PagesGiddens 2001 ). There are three major theoretical frameworks in political sociology—pluralist, elite theory, and social-class perspectives. Classic pluralist see power held by a variety of groups in society; some of which are more powerful than others.The diverse and competing interests of different groups is the basis for a democratic equilibrium. These groups compete with each other to maximise their influence. No one group or class is able to dominate all other groups because of checks and balancesRead MoreSociology1681 Words   |  7 Pagesdivisions into class are meaningless. We are all working people now.†(Margaret Thatcher in 1988) The discussion that if Britain i s becoming a classless society last for a long time. Britain was a typical manufacturing country because of industrial revolution in 18 century. Then the class structure of Britain was changed due to the globalization and economic system which changed from industrial to service during 19th and 20th century. In this easy, we focus on the change of social class in Britain. ItRead MoreStudent s Social Background And Their Connections Within Society1531 Words   |  7 PagesAs a pre-service educator it is imperative to understand a student’s social background and their connections within society. Julie Matthews regards education being concerned with the transmission of culture, values, beliefs, knowledge and skills (2013,p166). Social insights into learner’s backgrounds can expose how and why student’s act and think in a particular way. 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Social class makes everyone’s lives extremely different. For example: How long one can expect to live. In a wide range of ways, from success, to one’s health class, social class influences people’s lives (Grusky,2003). Among the life chances affected as result of social class involve factorsRead MoreHumanity and Social Forces763 Words   |  3 Pageswe do. However, sociology searches for the answer in terms of external forces. Sociology sets out to prove that human behavior is controlled by forces of social interaction, while in turn the behaviors of humans control the forces of social interaction in a cycle that controls many aspects of life. The way in which people behave and conduct their lives can be based on a plethora of factors such as social stratification. Through social stratification people are grouped into social â€Å"layers† basedRead MoreInequality Young People with Disabilities Experience in Leisure Activities1724 Words   |  7 Pagesapproaches can be applied, and in this case psychology and sociology will be explored. More specifically psychology and how body image and cyber bullying can impact leisure participation, along with sociology, which gives an insight into gendered leisure and social class. This essay will explore inequality and will be achieved by critically examining 5 young people with disabilities on a trip to The Melbourne Cup. By applying psychology and sociology disciplines to the hypothetical study can help explain

Abolishing Slavery A Tragic Historical Moment - 1020 Words

Abolishing slavery was a tragic historical moment. Various texts state the issue that surrounds abolition of slavery. Three authors ventilate their position on what is slavery to them. These authors educated others by demonstrating their perspective. These authors are known for their prodigious text. Now the real question here is? Is slavery a necessity? The Emancipation Proclamation was known as the savior for slaves. When Lincoln announces this bill he balanced military problems. The proclamation was applied during the civil war. Lincoln aforesaid, â€Å"That the Executive will, on the first day of January aforesaid, by proclamation, designate the states and parts of states, if any, in which the people thereof, respectively, shall then be in rebellion against the United States; and the fact that any state, or the people thereof, shall on that day be, in good faith, represented in the Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such state shall have participated, shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such state, and the people thereof, are not then in rebellion against the United States. Lincoln used this speech as a way to reach the citizen of U.S and other foreign country to let them know his main priority . At the end of this stage the designated state did freed the slaves because they lost the war. The designated states were, â€Å"Arkansas, Texas,Show MoreRelatedThe Ten Dollar Bill1990 Words   |  8 PagesTubman’s addition as the first African American and first women on American currency, the back of the ten-dollar bill will now also have images of suffragists Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Alice Paul. The is an historical moment for women and minorities of this country. For the first in our nation’s founding, a black woman will be on our currency. The government has taken a significant first step towards equality towards women and minorities. This article shows thatRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesThe Making and Meaning of the New York City Landscape Gerda Lerner, Fireweed: A Political Autobiography Allida M. Black, ed., Modern American Queer History Eric Sandweiss, St. Louis: The Evolution of an American Urban Landscape Sam Wineburg, Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts: Charting the Future of Teaching the Past Sharon Hartman Strom, Political Woman: Florence Luscomb and the Legacy of Radical Reform Michael Adas, ed., Agricultural and Pastoral Societies in Ancient and Classical

Symptoms And Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder - 1206 Words

Bipolar Disorder causes unusual changes in moods, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day to day functions. This disorder was previously known as Manic- Depressive Illness. There are four types of Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar I disorder is characterized by extreme manic episodes with some depression episodes as well. Bipolar II Disorder is characterized by major depressive episodes with some episodes of hypomania. Hypomania is not as high as mania’s characterized in Bipolar I Disorder. Sometimes hypomania can go unrecognized which leads to Bipolar II Disorder being misdiagnosed as major depression. Cyclothymia is defined by several hypomanic symptoms and some depression episodes as well, lasting about two years or one year in children and adolescents. Unspecified Bipolar Disorder is the fourth type of Bipolar Disorder; it is symptoms that are not equivalent with the other three categories. Bipolar Disorder is very different from just ordinary mood swings. The le ngth and the intensity of the moods in someone with Bipolar Disorder is very different and much more extreme than just regular mood swings. The disorder interferes with your physical and mental well-being and with your relationship with the people around you. Bipolar Disorder can be caused by major stress, changes in the brain, genetics, and a traumatic life event. The genes that can play a part in Bipolar Disorder have not been identified but it is believed that multiple genes work together to causeShow MoreRelatedSymptoms And Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder706 Words   |  3 PagesBipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that is characterized by changes in mood. It can lead to risky behavior, damage relationships and careers, and even suicidal outcomes if it’s not treated. Bipolar disorder is more common in older teenagers and young adults, it can affect children as young as 6. Women experience more periods of depression than men. 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Audience, The assembled spe... free essay sample

Audience, The assembled spectators or listeners. The Audience is a key concept in the media industry after all any type of media text is always made with the audience they target in mind. Audiences are our consumers they are the people we rely on to watch media texts. Media texts can be interpreted in many possible ways and audience responses can also differ, audience responses and understandings are different for various age groups, this can be due to their cultural and social up bringings. There have been many theories that have come about to help us understand our audiences. As there are many varied audiences there are also many varied theories to categories these audiences. Audiences are a crucial part, without them there would be no media. The mass media are becoming competitive and are trying to attract more and more audiences. In this essay Ill be overviewing these theories to understand television audiences. The first thing to understand about audiences in television or any type of media text, is that there are two types of audiences, one of them being an active audience this type of audience actively engages with the media text. They dont just accept the message that is being given to them by the media text. This type of audience is able to question what they are being shown and told, they are abler to create their own opinions. They do this based on their own life experiences, education and cultural influences. Active audience are actively involved with the media text. The second type of audience is a Passive audience This type of audience only observes what they see and hear through a media text such as television. Unlike an active audience this type of audience doesnt argue their opinion and do not engage with the media text. They do not question the encoded message of the text. To further understand active and passive audiences many theories have come about.Effects ModelStarting off with The Effects Model, this was proposed by The Frankfurt School of social researchers in the 1920s. This theory explores is how the media can affect society and how society affects the media. It states that audiences are passive and that they themselves are powerless to prevent being influenced by the media. The power lies with the media message in the text. The Frankfurst School carried out The Bobo Doll experiment to back up this theory. This research was very controversial and apparently proved that children copy violent behaviour. It was conducted in 1961 by Albert Bandura. In the experiment, children sat and watched a video, that showed an adult attacking a clown named Bobo Doll, the children were then taken to a room where they were allowed to play with lots of toys. After this they were taken to a room with Bobo Dolls and according to them 88% of the children imitated the violent behaviour that they had been exposed to earlier on through the video. This theory is however considered negative, as many people watch violent media and are not affected by it. This theory is also connected to The hypodermic Model, this is a theory that looks at the idea that the media inject their message into the audience and the audience are powerless to resist. Its as if theyre being drugged. Again, suggesting the audience are passive.Libraries (2009)Cultivation theoryAnother well – known audience theory is , The Cultivation theory is similar to the hypodermic needle model, it suggests that a repeated message can influence people and their values. An example being advertisements, if I message is being given that a certain health product can fix a persons health needs then that can have an impact on a person and they may go out and buy this product as they believe that it will help. This theory again implies the audience to be passive just like the Hypodermic needle model as it suggests the power lies with the media they are able to inject messages into the audience.Camelia Galea (2014)Two step flow theoryThis theory starts with the opinion leader the opinion leaders consume a piece of text, after consuming the text they then pass on the information and their views on the media text. The second section of the theory consists if the people in social contact with the opinion leader. These people receive the information and the opinions given by the opinion leader. These people consume the information and opinions without questioning. This theory is showing the audience to be passive as they agree with the opinion leader without any opinions of their own.Reception TheoryStuart Halls Reception theory is an audience theory that Suggests media texts are encoded by the producers of the texts to contain a certain meanings/messages related to social and cultural backgrounds of the creator of the text. However, the viewer/s can decode the text according to their own cultural and social backgrounds. He suggested three main perspectives in which the audience can respond:Preferred or dominant readings- This is where the audience interprets the text as the producer has intended, as they are seen as a passive audience. As their social and cultural experiences are close to the producer so there is not much for the audience to challenge. this audience can be considered as passive. Negotiated readings- This is where the audience goes through some sort of negotiation, they somewhat agree and disagree with the message given to them.Oppositional- this type of audience reading indicates that they completely disagree with what the message that is being given to them. This type of audience creates their own opinions due to their own social and cultural beliefs. This audience is seen as an active audience, as theyre able to create their own opinions instead of just agreeing and taking in the messages that are being fed to them.This theory outlines the three main types of readings an audience can have. However, John Fiske argues that audiences are not passive, through fan fictions and fan videos they are actively engaging with the text take it in.Louise Hudson (2014)Uses and Gratifications theoryAnother well-known audience theory is, The uses and gratifications theory by Katz and Blumerz, this is opposite to the Effects model, the audience are seen as active, they use the text and are not taken in by it, the audience are able to use the media text for their own benefit. The power here lies with the audience instead of the producers who encodes the message. This theory outlines how an audience use a media text, instead of being fooled by the text they able to reject it and see it as they wish.The audience use the text to gratify there needs through either:Entertainment- Audience watch for the purpose of being entertained.Personal identification-where Audiences find similarities, they have role models that reflect similar qualities to themselves.Social interaction- This is where the media create a topic of conversation between people.Information- Where by the audience want to gain information from the text.Escapism- the audience use it as a way to escape their reality and are able to imagine themselves in the situation shown to them. An issue raised with the uses and gratification theory is that the audience have no control over the media and what the media itself produce. It is argued that the theory suggests that the media identify individuals needs and provide material to gratify them. However, we would much rather be categorized in the active audience rather than passive.David Bakes (2012)A key way in understanding audiences is through categorization and a major categorising with audiences seems to be other active or passive audiences. From my point of view younger audiences are seen as passive whereas older audiences are active as they have experienced more in terms of social and cultural background but this can vary of course based on certain individuals views. I myself think I can be both passive and active based on what I am viewing and I think this seems to be the case with many others. With things such as Television advertisements audiences are often passive as the information they are being fed is ofte n very believable. Overall My understanding of audiences is that there is not just one type of audience there are many ways to view the way we understand our audience and as time goes on more and more theories such as the ones I have pointed out will come and about. There can never be one set way to understand an audience as they are now becoming more and more complex, Audiences have become consumer who interact with media texts

An Introduction To Royal Dutch Shell Essay Example For Students

An Introduction To Royal Dutch Shell Essay The Royal Dutch Shell is a world-wide group of energy and petrochemical company which helps run into demand of the universe ‘s turning demand for energy in environmentally, economically and socially responsible ways. Shell is engaged in the chief activities of oil and natural gas industry. The â€Å" Shell Brand † name has enjoyed a 100 twelvemonth history in this portion of the universe boulder clay day of the month. It is committed to give all its energies, resources and clip to convey about higher value and satisfaction to its clients, employees and stockholders. The appraisal of demands and wants of clients is an on-going procedure which has helped in the continual development of new merchandises and services. The Royal Dutch Shell is functioning the people at high criterion by traveling harmonizing to clients wants. This paper discusses the Royal Dutch Shell Plc looking into its operations, the company background, and history. It aims at placing the SWOT analysis of the company, the rivals, their merchandises and services looking into their selling and enlargement scheme and the fiscal analysis of the company. 2.0 History of Royal Dutch Shell Royal Dutch Shell PHYPERLINK â€Å" hypertext transfer protocol: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_limited_company † lc which is normally known as Shell, is a transnational crude oil company created in February 1907 when Shell Transport and Trading Company Ltd of the United Kingdom merged their operation with the Royal Dutch Petroleum Company. The term of the amalgamation gave 60 per centum of the group to the Dutch weaponries and Forty per centum to the British. The grounds of the amalgamation so were stimulated by the demand to vie globally with other rivals. Shell is registered in the United Kingdom with its corporate central office in The Hague, its revenue enhancement abode is in Netherlands, and its primary listings on the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Amsterdam ( merely â€Å" A † portions are portion of the AEX index ) . Royal Dutch Shell Plc is a parent company which owns straight or indirectly investings in legion companies which constitutes a group. Royal Dutch Shell plc is a group of energy and petrochemical companies with approximately 102,000 employees in more than 100 part of a state. It is involved in selling and transportation of oil merchandises and chemicals, natural gas and electricity, gas and oil geographic expedition and production. Royal Dutch Shell gross increased by $ 15 Billion than Exxon Mobil which resulted, Shell to be listed as the universe ‘s largest corporation for 2009 by Fortune and universe ‘s 2nd largest corporation by Forbes. The company besides has involvements in renewable beginnings of energy such as air current and solar and H. Shell has helped improved the universe ‘s turning demand for energy in economically, environmentally and socially responsible ways. Their scheme and precedences for the hereafter are â€Å" profitable downstream and more upstream while their nucleus values of unity, regard for people and honesty signifier the footing of the Shell General Business Principle s. The company operates on a five concern sections which are viz. : The Exploration and production concern hunts for and recovers oil and natural gas globally. The gas and power concern liquefies natural gas and transports it to clients. Its gas to liquids ( GTL ) procedure turns natural gas into cleaner- combustion man-made fuel and other assorted merchandises. The oil sands concern infusions bitumen and converts it to man-made petroleum oils which can be turned into a broad scope of other merchandises. The oil merchandises concern makes moves and sells a scope of different petroleum- based merchandises globally for domestic, conveyance and industrial usage. The chemical concern produces petrochemicals for the industries and clients. 3.0 Board of Directors in the Royal Dutch Shell plc Shell has an Executive Committee that operates under the leading of the Chief Executive Officer who is responsible for Royal Dutch Shell ‘s overall concern and personal businesss. The Executive Committee comprises of Peter Voser who is the Chief Executive Officer ( CEO ) of Royal Dutch Shell plc ( RDS ) , before his assignment as CEO with consequence from July 1, 2009, he was the Chief Financial Officer ( CFO ) and Executive Director of RDS since 2004 and from October 2004 up to July 2005 was CFO of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies ; others include Simon Henry who became Chief Financial Officer on May 1, 2009, and was appointed an Executive Director with consequence from May 20, 2009 ; Malcolm Brinded became Executive Director of the Upstream International concern with consequence from July 1, 2009 ; Marvin E. Odum became Director of the Upstream Americas concern with consequence fromA July 1, 2009.   He continues as President of Shell Oil Company ( SOC ) ; Matthias Bichsel became Director of the Projects A ; Technology concern with consequence from July 1, 2009 ; Mark Williams became Downstream Director with consequence from January 1, 2009 ; Hugh Mitchell became caput of the Human Resources A ; Corporate map with consequence from July 1, 2009 and Beat Hess who was appointed Legal Director of Royal Dutch Shell plc in 2003. The Chief Executive OfficerA has concluding authorization in all affairs of direction that are non within the responsibilities and governments of the Board or of the AGM. The Executive Committee assists the Chief Executive OfficerA and implements all Board declarations and supervises all direction degrees in Royal Dutch Shell. Royal Dutch Shell has a single-tier Board of Directors chaired by Jorma Ollila. The executive direction is led by the Chief Executive Officer, Peter Voser. The members of the Board of Royal Dutch Shell plc run into on a regular basi s to discourse reappraisals and studies on the concern and programs of Royal Dutch Shell ( Shell Annual study, 2008 ) . The Main Competitors of Royal Dutch Shell Plc. The BP which is besides Beyond Petroleum. This is the universe ‘s third-largest integrated oil concern, behind Exxon Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell. BP explores for gas and oil in 29 states and has entire militias of 18.2 billion barrels of oil. BP is the largest oil and gas manufacturer in the US and besides a top refiner, treating more than 3.8 million barrels of rough oil per twenty-four hours. BP markets its merchandises in more than 100 states and operates more than 24,000 gas Stationss worldwide. Exxon Mobil is the universe ‘s largest integrated oil company in front of Royal Dutch Shell and BP. It engages in oil and gas geographic expedition, production, supply, transit, and selling worldwide and has proved militias of 12.8 billion barrels of oil equivalent, every bit good as major retentions in oil littorals through Imperial Oil. Exxon Mobil ‘s 37 refineries in 20 states have a throughput capacity of 6.2 million barrels per twenty-four hours. The company supplies refined merchandises to more than 28,600 gas Stationss in 100 states. It is besides a major petrochemical manufacturer. Spelucian explorers EssayThe conditions can hold important effects on the production, with refineries peculiarly hit late by Hurricane Ike while monetary values of fuel in recent months have been peculiarly volatile, at first lifting rapidly and so falling aggressively, conveying down possible net income The 2008 summer experienced work stoppages by oiler drivers working for Hoyer, providers of Shell, conveying about negative promotion, unfavorable judgment of Shell ‘s high net incomes and a supply job for Shell forecourts. The economic downswing resulted to a lessening in demand for fossil fuels, perchance caused by alterations in driving wonts in response to high fuel monetary values earlier in 2008. Fiscal Analysis The company recorded grosss of $ 458,361 million in the fiscal twelvemonth ended December 2008 ( FY2008 ) , an addition of 28.8 % over the fiscal twelvemonth ended December 2007 ( FY2007 ) . The operating net income of the company was $ 50,989 million in the FY2008, an addition of 1.1 % over FY2007. The net net income was $ 26,277 million in the FY2008, a lessening of 16.1 % compared with FY2007 ( Shell Annual study, 2008 ) . It ‘s gross for the 3rd one-fourth of 2009 increased by 15 % to $ 75 billion in comparing to the last one-fourth. Net incomes were $ 3.3 billion, down 62 % in comparing to the 3rd one-fourth of 2008. Net incomes were strongly affected by lower refinery borders, lower gas and oil monetary values. Oil and gas production were about unchanged as compared to this same period in 2008 at 2,926 thousand boe/d, new field start-ups beginning diminutions in developed Fieldss. The LNG gross revenues volumes were 13 % in comparing to the same period to 3.49 million met ric tons ( Shell Annual study, 2008 ) . The gross was up by 9 % in the 2nd one-fourth 2009 as compared to the old one-fourth to $ 63.9 billion while gross net income was down 5.6 % to $ 8.5 billion and entire production fell by 13 % in comparing to the first one-fourth of 2009, to 2,882 1000 boe/day ( Shell.com, 2009 ) . The autumn in production was caused by the security state of affairss in Nigeria. Net incomes were down due to high industry costs, extra capacity in the market and weak demand. In the first one-fourth of 2009, Shell Plc grosss were $ 58.2 billion down which is 28 % in comparings to the 4th one-fourth of 2008. However, gross net income has risen to $ 9 billion which is due to a lessening in the cost of gross revenues of 36 % in comparings to the 4th one-fourth of 2008. The autumn in gross arose as a consequence of increased geographic expedition costs, lower oil and gas monetary values and lower production volume. Gross was $ 458.4 at the terminal of 2008 billion which is an addition of 22 % as compared to 2007. However, net incomes have been down by 17 % which is as a consequence of a autumn in oil monetary values on stock list in the 2nd half of the twelvemonth, lower production volume, a autumn in refinement borders and higher operating costs, ( Shell Annual study, 2008 ) . Merchandises and Servicess These are designed to run into the demands of concerns from industry to air power and chemicals to transporting. They are listed in three classs which are On the Road, Solutions for Businesses and In your House. a. ) On the Road Card services: e.g. Shell Loyalty ; you can salvage money on shell ‘s fuel with the Shell ‘s Drivers nine Loyalty wages. Fuels: e.g. Shell V- Power which helps heighten driving power presenting superior public presentation. Oil and Lubricants: e.g. Shell Helix Ultra motor oils active cleaning which is designed to clean and protect as it protects. Service Station Locator: you can seek for the nearest station near to you. Shops and services: you can take to pay from pumps and besides grab soft drinks at stores to and fro your journey. Shell Gas ( LPG ) for automobilist: this gives you entree to your ain safe mini- filling station for LPG. This is good for companies that run a fleet of vehicles. They can salvage money with â€Å" back to base † solution from Shell Gas ( LPG ) . B. ) Solutions for Businesss Shell Gas ( LPG ) for concerns: Shell ‘s people, expertness and advanced engineering present energy solutions to run into our demands. LPG from shell can be used for so many advanced applications. Shell Gas Direct: has been providing natural gas to assorted concerns across the UK since 1989. Chemicals: different merchandises that are used mundane in assorted countries are from natural stuffs that Shell chemical companies provide. Shell Automotive: this delivers exceeding service to clients. Shell Distributors U.K: several distributers provide bulk fuels and lubricators to domestic agriculture and commercial clients around the U.K. c. ) Shell Gas ( LPG ) for the Home They make available a dependable and cleaner combustion fuel for our places. Decision The oil and gas industry and market is rather complex. Shell engages expeditiously, responsible and productively in gas, oil, chemicals and other concerns. They are actively looking for and development of assorted beginnings of alternate energy to run into the demands of the clients and the universe ‘s turning demand for energy. In this modern clip, competition has hardened with Royal Dutch Shell holding several rivals such as the BP, Exxon Mobil and Total Fina Elf. Royal Dutch Shell has continued to keep a strong distribution channel and a really big market size. Royal Dutch Shell purposes at fulfilling clients and the people have their trade name trueness. It is seen as a market leader in footings of invention. For illustration among at that place assorted rivals, Shell was the first company to acquire the legal right to run mini-market and besides the first to present the construct of Mobile Training Unit ( MTU ) for the intent of developing workers etc. Royal Dutch Shell were besides the first to present ( rainbow ) jet wash and ( prosper ) branded oil alteration installation. Shell designs and manages high category information system which helps improves the productiveness and determination devising of the administration in front of its rivals. Overall based on my findings, I think Royal Dutch has made an overall impact in the Oil and gas industry. Last, in order to stay competitory in the market they need to present some new steps such as developing effectual selling plans which would assist increase gross revenues in the administration thereby increasing market portions and proviso of assorted inducements in the retail mercantile establishments to the clients e.g. free oil alteration on all its mercantile establishments. In order to get by with the dynamic environment, Royal Dutch Shell needs to put more in research and development.