TIPS4PED City in the spotlight: the Municipality of Kozani

Kozani is a city in transition. Once known as Greece’s powerhouse of lignite production, it is now turning the page and setting its sights on a cleaner, smarter, climate-neutral future. As a follower city in the Horizon Europe TIPS4PED project, the Municipality of Kozani is using digital innovation and local collaboration to support this ambitious shift.

Located in the Region of West Macedonia, northern Greece, Kozani has long been synonymous with energy production.  As the capital of its regional unit, Kozani is more than an administrative hub. Nestled in the Aliakmonas river valley, it is also a key transportation crossroads linking Central Macedonia, Thessaly, and Epirus.

Today, this city of more than 67,000 residents is reimagining its future in line with the European “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities” initiative, aiming to transform from a lignite stronghold into a model for clean, smart, and sustainable urban living.

The ZEP Area: A Living Laboratory

In the framework of the TIPS4PED project, Kozani is focusing on the ZEP area, a vibrant urban district that brings together residential buildings (including social housing), regional government facilities (i.e. the Regional Authority of Western Macedonia), and the new campus of the University of Western Macedonia. The campus is already equipped with an advanced energy management system, creating a strong foundation for experimentation and innovation.

The Municipality of Kozani and its local partners, including the Cluster of Bioeconomy and Environment of Western Macedonia (CluBE), are co-developing a Digital Twin of the ZEP area. This virtual model will serve as a demonstrator to simulate scenarios, test solutions and support evidence-based decision-making; ultimately, creating a path toward Positive Energy Districts (PEDs). The initiative is not only technical but also strategic, supporting the city’s broader post-lignite transition after decades of lignite dependency.

Leading by example through an inclusive approach

A key feature of the project in Kozani is community engagement. Local focus groups and stakeholder meetings are already underway, giving residents, businesses, and institutions a say in shaping the digital tools. Their input is crucial in identifying which datasets, functions, and applications will have the greatest impact for the city whereas the city makes sure that the creation of cutting-edge digital tools aligns with the needs and goals of the community

Kozani’s work in TIPS4PED is fully aligned with its commitment to the European “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities” initiative, which aims for climate neutrality by 2030. The project is providing the city with the tools, knowledge, and networks it needs to move from vision to action.

By combining technological innovation with strong community involvement, Kozani is demonstrating how small and medium-sized cities can lead the way in coping with contemporary climate change challenges. Its work in TIPS4PED highlights the power of pairing technology with community ownership to build resilient, inclusive, and future-ready urban environments.