NetZeroCities Twinning Programme: Site visit to Samsun, Turkey

NetZeroCities Twinning Programme: Site visit to Samsun, Turkey

On 24–25 September 2026, for NetZeroCities, ERRIN, with executives from the Municipality of Kozani and ANDHKO SA (Organisation for Local Development), visited Samsun, Turkey, returning a visit that Samsun's delegation had made to Kozani. The exchange was part of the Twinning Learning Program under the EU's Climate Neutral - Smart Cities (NetZeroCities) mission. Both cities want to fast-track climate action in energy, mobility and waste management by showcasing their best practices to each other.

The key functions of the Metropolitan Municipality of Samsun showcased include:

  • Traffic management: cameras at 75 key intersections, specialised simulation software and a real-time vehicle monitoring system.
  • Sustainable mobility: a fleet of electric buses, a municipal charging area and an electric bike rental app. The 20 Turkish-made buses charge from 0 to 100% in 50 minutes and come with a 10-year battery guarantee. They are cheap to run and have a 4-year payback, so they are already turning a profit. The city plans a fully electric fleet by 2045.
  • Energy transition: the 45 MW photovoltaic park at Lake Ladik, the 2nd largest public-owned solar field in Turkey. It uses Turkish-made modules with tracking, was built in just 1 year and 3 months, and has a 4-year payback, meaning it covers its costs and turns a profit from 2027.
  • Citizen services: a 24-hour call centre, the municipal depot, a visitor information centre and the Historical-Folklore Museum.

On the second day, a workshop coordinated by the ERRIN program manager allowed for a two-way exchange. Kozani presented its good practices in waste management (pay-as-you-throw) and renewable electricity production (Energy Community).

The facilitator highlighted Samsun's solar and e-bus projects as blueprints other cities could follow: climate action gets implemented in cities because it makes economic sense. Get rid of fossil fuels, electrify consumption and save money. The twinning learning program contributes to a growing network of cities working toward a sustainable, climate-neutral future.