Interoperability in Microgrids to Improve Energy Access: A Systematic Review

This paper presents a systematic review of microgrid interoperability focusing on energy access. Drawing upon 59 studies and reports, it delves into interoperability issues and technologies across various microgrid applications. This study aims to provide a synthesized overview of the current discourse on microgrid interoperability, particularly contextualized within the realm of energy access. This objective is accomplished through a process that involves clarifying terminologies, exploring potential interoperability issues in microgrids, identifying the technologies for interoperability, and examining promising pathways to achieve interoperability. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method was used in this study. Through data extraction and content analysis, the review found that studies on interoperability in the energy field primarily focus on the smart grid topic, where information and communication technologies are regarded as key elements to facilitate interoperability. There is less emphasis on physical or electrical interoperability, with the literature primarily focusing on interoperability in the communication domain. Furthermore, interoperability in the energy access context is uncommon, as indicated by a lack of literature in remote, rural, or community settings. Adopting common industry standards is one of the strategies for ensuring interoperability, enabling microgrid systems to function effectively and reliably. This paper contributes to describing research insights, identifying gaps in knowledge, and proposing future research directions regarding microgrid interoperability.