ULG Views, Trikala

1. What is your name and what do you do?

Afroditi Kotti, Trikala municipality officer

2. What is your role within the project?

I am participating in the Trikala ULG for the Vilawatt project since the summer of 2021, working at the technical services of the municipality.

I am one of the core ULG members, since our Municipality and specifically my position are responsible to take over all future activities in energy related projects and of course in the implementation of the Trikala TIP.

The City of Trikala committed to contribute the required financial and human resources for the effective implementation of all the foreseen activities in local level, so I am mostly contributing on this task.

3. What do you think the Vilawatt-UTM network can contribute to your city?

Based on the Vilawatt exchanges and pillars to be transferred through the municipality Investment Plan, Trikala can go one step forward to achieve the goals set for being a climate neutral city by 2030.

The transfer results are expected to critically impact positively on its policy regards energy and low carbon in many ways. The following explains the most salient ones for or City.

Also to get direct access to a very innovative practice to deal with complex urban challenges and mainly to energy transition.

Finally, the city and the municipality can benefit from the support and advice of experienced experts who already play a critical key role in facilitating the process of understanding the UIA practice, but mostly also in adapting it into an investment plan tailor-made for our city

4. What do you think is the city’s main strength to build this project?

Long time experience in EU projects setting always specific targets to be achieved.

Trikala is the first Greece’s 5G-ready city, acting in various ICT fields such as mobility, public space services (public lighting and smart parking), e-health, e-governance, digital nfrastructure, e-education and smart energy grid services.

5. How do you think a project like Vilawatt-UTM can improve citizens’ lives?

Through measurable results, directly connected with achieved project indicators.

VilaWatt project has already allowed Viladecans to boost a mindset change in the local population, through enhanced knowledge and capacities related to energy transition and renovation of buildings. This is also expected for the Municipality of Trikala.

The energy related local sector can be further developed, by empowering local professionals and creating new jobs up to 2030.

I think that even an informal new PPCP organization for energy governance, can empower and engage citizens, local administration and public sector for the energy transition expected in the years to come.