Excellence Hub Greece
About the Region
Western Macedonia (EL53)
Western Macedonia, is a region located in north-western Greece, with a population of approximately 255,000 people, as of 2021.
It is a low-density populated region (30 per km2, as compared to the country's 81.96 per km2 average). This is mainly due to the mountainous nature of the region, as 82% of the total surface are mountainous and semi-mountainous areas. It is the only region in Greece without sea coast.
Western Macedonia for 70 years was the energy heart of Greece with large mine fields and thermal power plants in the region but now trying to change its productive model in a very short time, due to the decision Greece’s electricity production to be fully decarbonised by 2028.
The region has one of the highest unemployment rates in the European Union and struggling to deal with consequences such as depopulation and huge brain drain.
HUB SERVICES
The Excellence Hub in Greece is providing the following key services for the sustainable energy ecosystem:
A network of partners and stakeholders from all sectors
An online hub for sharing knowledge, resources, and best practices
Campaigns and advocacy initiatives to promote sustainable development
Training and capacity-building programs for organizations and individuals
HUB Partners
FOCUS CASES IN THE REGION
Here you can find the most promising innovation cases supported by the Excellence Hub, who are either seeking for investment, policy or market uptake support both in the region or in other countries.