Driving Energy Efficiency and Sustainability through Innovation and Strategic Partnerships
Energy efficiency and sustainability are imperative, and the company Smart Energy Investment Kft has set new standards in the field of energy services. As a trusted partner to local governments and collaborators, this Hungarian company provides innovative solutions that reduce energy consumption and ensure long-term sustainability. ESCo projects, based on the Energy Performance Contract (EPC) model, invest in energy sustainability. One of the company’s founders and its director, Obrad Tadić, shared his vision of the future of smart cities with us.
What is SEI’s role in today’s energy efficiency market?
Smart Energy Investment is today a respected partner for local governments, public bodies, and various local and international collaborators. We represent a stable, financially sound, and reliable company that implements modern energy solutions and provides long-term energy services.
Was it starting operations in the Serbia complex?
The start of 2016 was far more complex than we anticipated. Much of what we expected didn’t happen, and we had to navigate many challenges on our own. However, this made us stronger and more capable of tackling new business challenges and ventures.
How many projects have you completed so far?
Together with our partners, we have implemented around 30 projects in Serbia and developed over 100 projects in the region. We aim to implement these projects either independently or with partners.
To what extent do you collaborate with companies in the region and Europe?
I prefer the term “synergy” instead of “collaboration.” We are synergised with companies from Hungary, Serbia, Slovenia, Austria, and other regional firms. We are delighted that our partnerships transcend borders, focusing not on territorial or local limitations but on achieving strong energy alignments for optimal synergy.
What are SEI’s results and contributions to the quality of life for Serbia’s citizens?
Regarding results, our collaborators and partners know we usually emphasise the environmental and societal effects. Our main achievements are reducing energy consumption and directly and explicitly lowering costs while improving environmental conditions. Our projects save millions of kilowatt-hours annually and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by thousands of tonnes. Everything else stems from these effects.
Smart Energy Investment’s projects save millions of kilowatt-hours annually, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by thousands of tonnes, and set global benchmarks for sustainability and public-private partnerships
What are your plans for the future?
We expect SEI to continue growing and developing at the same pace, opening new markets and introducing new business models. We are currently developing very exciting multidisciplinary energy efficiency projects related to agriculture, conservation, and sustainable development in every sense. This public-private partnership is designed to synergise within a single project, combining modern technologies with traditional ones to create quality integration, optimisation, and management.
What does the PPP model and technology offer?
Initially, Our idea was not to focus on just one type of technology. Instead, we aim to leverage everything the PPP model offers—the synergy and the inclusion of all resources, especially business know-how, to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs). We view technologies as tools for fulfilling our goals aligning with state development objectives. Consequently, we approach public lighting systems with the same perspective. Through our projects, exclusively public-private partnerships, we strive to be solid partners to local governments and public entities in achieving their sustainability goals.
You’ve entered the global market, representing Serbia in the best possible way through various projects. What has the world recognised in your projects?
We like to say that our projects represent us and the countries we come from. Thus, with our projects, we represent Serbia, Hungary, and the entire region, as our project partners come from a broader region and are integrated into our solutions. We are recognised as leaders in public-private partnerships. One of our projects in Zaječar was selected two years ago among the ten best projects globally, according to the UNECE methodology, and received special praise for its circular economy and sustainability. We are incredibly proud of that!