Informative Speech Outline

Introduction

Attention getting device

Ask the audience: How many of you couldn’t study for the next day exam because there was no
electricity?

Justification

Such cases are more common in some parts of the world even this day. We are among the
privileged ones who don’t have to worry about electrical power. We think it’s our right to get
electricity 24/7. Friends, the truth is at this very moment when we enjoy this luxury of being
seated in an air conditioned room, there are people in other parts of the world staring at some
electric bulbs, waiting for it to glow so they can return to their daily work.

Purpose

The existing power grids are not enough and there are places which are still in dark. Micro grids can
bridge this gap between light and darkness . As per the US department of energy micro grids are a
group of interconnected energy resources that can work with the existing grid and also
independently. Micro-grids have better energy efficiency, improved reliability of energy supply,
emphasize more on renewable resources, and have lesser impact on environment. Many industry
experts see micro-grids playing significant role in rural electrification in developing countries. [Energy-
post, (October 2018).]

Thesis

But the question is “Is the world really ready for the micro-grids yet?”

Preview
There are instances where the micro-grid technology has shown promising results and there are
places which are still entangled in politics and conventional regulations.

Body

1. One of the premier universities in the United States, the New York University (NYU), has
been producing its own power since the 1960s. Eyeing micro-grid capabilities NYU shifted from
oil to natural gas in 2011. This shift towards micro-grid based power generation and use has
reduced the energy cost and reduced the emissions by 68% and greenhouse gas emissions by
23%. [Thomas W. Overton, Power Magazine (September 1, 2014).]

Transition: But the grass on the other side of the world is not so green.

2. A team from Energy Institute at Haas, Berkeley investigating in rural India found different set of
challenges while installing micro-grids. They established that a few communities were in favor of the
micro grid technology. Out of the 176 un-electrified villages they intended to deploy the micro-grids into,
they could succeed in only 10. These micro-grids were facing issues of high prices and power theft.
[Energy-post, (October 2018).]

Transition: There are cases where micro-grids are facing obstruction from the public and state
government for different reasons.

3. Lake Elsinore Advanced Pump Storage (LEAPS) project which is designed to meet reliable
energy requirements and reduce emissions using hydroelectric power storage in Southern
California is facing legal challenges from the local people. They argue that the project would
disturb the biological balance in existence and destroy the underground aquifer under the lake.
[Kim Harris, Valley News, (April 11, 2019).]
Also, Federal and State governments have many long existing regulations. These regulations have not
been updated with time and needs to be revised for the integration of micro- grid with the existing grid. At
commercial level reduction in demand through energy efficiency and use of renewable sources threatens
the business model of different power companies.
 [Adam Hirsch “Microgrids: A review of technologies, key drivers, and outstanding issues,
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.”, 2018]

Conclusion

Summary Statement
The micro-grids although successful in small scales like in universities, islands and jails faces
considerable challenges from people, state and federal government. The want of research which can bring
down the cost has also contributed to its unsuccessful implementation.

Appeal + Ending Statement

Hopefully, the technical, political and local challenges can be addressed taking into consideration all the
stake holders - the people, the government and above all the environment. Else we need to reiterate the
question -“Do we deserve this luxury called uninterrupted power supply when 1.3 billion people have
little or no access to electricity?” [Todd Lindeman, The Washington Post, (Nov. 10, 2015.)]

Bibliography

1. Meredith Fowlie, Catherine Wolfram and Derek Wolfson. "Are solar micro-grids the future in
the developing world?" energypost.eu , (October 23, 2018)
2. Thomas W. Overton. “New York University Cogeneration Plant, New York City” Power
Magazine , (September 1, 2014).
3. Adam Hirsch, Yael Parag, Josep Guerrero. “Microgrids: A review of technologies, key drivers,
and outstanding issues, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.”, 2018,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2018.03.040
4. Kim Harris. “Lake Elsinore says 'No' to LEAPS”, Valley News, (April 11, 2019)
5. Todd Lindeman, “1.3 billion are living in the dark”, The Washington Post, (Nov. 10, 2015.)