Stakeholder Perspectives on Microgrid Interoperability in Energy Access

Stakeholder Perspectives on Microgrid Interoperability in Energy Access is a research article by Amalia Suryani, Eko Agus Prasetio, Niek Moonen, and Jelena Popovic, published in IEEE Access in 2025. The paper investigates how stakeholders perceive challenges and strategies for achieving interoperability in microgrids, focusing on Indonesia as a case study—a country with extensive deployment of microgrids for rural electrification.

Background

Decentralized energy systems, including microgrids and off-grid solar, are increasingly used to expand electricity access in remote and underserved regions. However, many of these systems are designed as standalone units, limiting their ability to interconnect or scale. Interoperability—defined as the ability of different systems and devices to communicate, exchange, and operate together—is seen as vital for system sustainability, scalability, and integration with larger grids.

Despite this, achieving interoperability remains complex due to conflicting priorities among policymakers, technology providers, operators, and users. Stakeholders differ in their views on the role of technical standards, market mechanisms, and governance frameworks.

Methodology

The study employs Q methodology, a mixed qualitative-quantitative research approach that systematically captures subjective viewpoints. Twenty-four participants from public agencies, private companies, and academia took part. They sorted and ranked 34 statements related to interoperability, enabling the researchers to extract clusters of shared perspectives. This marks the first use of Q methodology in the context of microgrid interoperability.

Findings

The analysis revealed four distinct stakeholder perspectives:

1. Harmonization Promoters: Stress the importance of formal interoperability standards, universal communication protocols, and cross-sector collaboration to achieve integration.
2. Industry Allies – Favor market-led approaches, where private-sector alliances define common specifications, reducing reliance on government regulation.
3. Tech Proponents – Focus on technical features such as plug-and-play capability, physical compatibility, and microgrid-to-grid interconnection.
4. Public Advocates – Emphasize consumer flexibility, public-driven standardization, and education to raise awareness of interoperability.

Areas of consensus include the general importance of standardization and data security. Disagreements centered on who should lead interoperability efforts (industry vs. government), whether plug-and-play should be prioritized, and the role of consumer awareness.

Contributions

The article contributes to both theory and practice. It conceptualizes interoperability as a socio-technical issue, shaped by competing technical, regulatory, and market considerations. It provides empirical insights from Indonesia, one of the world’s largest microgrid markets. It introduces Q methodology to the field, offering a new way to study energy governance. The authors argue that inclusive, participatory governance is needed to balance differing priorities and design effective interoperability strategies for decentralized energy systems.

Related Project

As a complement to the study, a related project developed an interactive visualization tool to communicate and compare stakeholder perspectives on microgrid interoperability. Designed as an infographic combining icons, radar charts, and simplified text, the tool was guided by principles of clarity, accessibility, functionality, and managing cognitive load. Expert evaluation found it to be visually engaging and effective in illustrating differences across perspectives, though some features were noted as complex for first-time users. The tool is expected to support stakeholder understanding, contributing to the interoperable microgrids for sustainable energy access.