Strategic communication as a driver of renewable energy adoption in urban transport: Evidence from MRT Jakarta

Purpose. This study examines how strategic communication influences stakeholder support for renewable energy initiatives in urban mass rapid transit systems. Using PT MRT Jakarta as a case study, the research addresses a critical gap: despite technical feasibility and policy commitments to achieve decarbonization by 2040, renewable energy implementation remains constrained by insufficient stakeholder alignment and engagement. Methodology. A quantitative research design employing Structural Equation Modeling with Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) was utilized to test six hypotheses. Data were collected from 176 internal and external stakeholders of MRT Jakarta using a structured questionnaire that measured strategic communication, sense of importance, stakeholder ownership, stakeholder support, and perceived financial outcomes. Path analysis examined both direct and mediated relationships among these constructs. Results. Strategic communication demonstrated exceptionally strong effects on sense of importance (β = 0.989, p < 0.001) and stakeholder ownership (β = 0.978, p < 0.001). Both psychological constructs significantly mediated the relationship between communication and stakeholder support, with ownership exhibiting stronger influence (β = 0.677, p < 0.001) than importance (β = 0.316, p < 0.05). Stakeholder support strongly predicted perceived financial efficiency (β = 0.991, p < 0.001) and financial independence (β = 0.969, p < 0.001). All six hypotheses were empirically supported. Theoretical contribution. The study advances sustainability transitions scholarship by empirically validating communication as a strategic lever for institutional change. It demonstrates that renewable energy barriers in public infrastructure are fundamentally communicative rather than technical, extending strategic communication theory into sustainable transport contexts. Practical implications. Public transit agencies pursuing decarbonization must reposition communication from an auxiliary function to a strategic priority, employing participatory engagement platforms, values-aligned messaging, and transparent reporting mechanisms to accelerate renewable energy adoption and strengthen financial sustainability. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 7: Clean Energy; SDG 11: Sustainable Cities; SDG 13: Climate Action