From Lignite to Renewables: How Kozani Is Rewriting the Rules of District Heating

Kozani in northern Greece is a great example of a city taking its energy transition into its own hands.

The goal: shift district heating power away from lignite (a carbon-intensive coal) to a minimum of 40% renewables by 2030, making heat more affordable for 28 000 connected homes.  

The insight: climate solutions often stall when they ignore three key requirements:

• Strong municipal leadership and community buy-in
• A well-defined financial roadmap, solid project preparation, and technical support
• Economic competitiveness – solutions need to work for household budgets, not just climate targets

Getting all three right is what turns climate ambition into delivery.

Is your city working on similar challenges?

The Capital Hub supports cities and regions through climate and economic transitions, combining financial strategy with deep local expertise.  

Read the full story from NetZeroCitiesEU on Kozani's transition and the Capital Hub's role in it here.