Western Macedonia (WM), Greece
Western Macedonia is undergoing a deep transformation from Greece’s primary lignite mining region to a leading hub for renewable energy and hydrogen innovation. Coordinated by regional authorities with extensive EU support (JTF, NetZeroCities), the valley is phasing out fossil fuels in favor of clean alternatives. Key initiatives include the transition of the massive Kozani district heating system (99% coverage) from lignite to a sustainable mix of natural gas and high-efficiency heat pumps.
Responsible partner: CERTH
| Number of municipalities involved | Region-wide focus on 26.700 buildings; Kozani as the primary urban hub. |
| Population | 250.453 |
| Number of jobs affected by lignite phase-out | ~630 direct jobs (transitioning to 2.1 GW wind energy) ~2,100 indirect jobs |
| Ongoing energy transition processes | Transforming Greece’s former “energy heartland” by replacing historic lignite power with a mix of solar (7 MW), biogas (1 MWe), and pioneering hydrogen projects. |
| Strategic focus and goals | 2028 goals. Complete the phase-out of lignite mining, align energy data across all municipalities, and finalize the heat transition. Flagship projects. 1. H₂ Innovation Hub (Ptolemaida): integration of 1 MW solar power with 900 kW electrolysers. 2. NEUTRON pilot: implementing net-zero city retrofits and deep energy renovations. Grid resilience. Deployment of large-scale battery storage and heat buffers to stabilize the new green grid. Replication priorities: implementation of Hynoca technology, advanced heat buffers, and decentralized battery systems. Key challenges. Managing the socio-economic impact of industrial shifts and securing funding for large-scale building retrofits. |
