Artur Racicki (SEEDiA): Cities are increasingly looking for partners who will help them achieve ambitious climate goals

SEEDiA is a Polish startup that creates solar-powered furniture for cities and businesses. They design benches, shelters, and other outdoor structures with built-in solar panels. These panels harness energy from the sun while providing people with convenient amenities like seating and shelter. The solar energy can be used to charge devices, power outdoor lighting, or contribute to the local power grid. SEEDiA’s innovative products support sustainability in cities, encourage the use of clean energy, and enhance the outdoor experience for everyone.

Artur Racicki, one of the Co-Founders of SEEDiA, shared insights about their products, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategies, and how they adapt to market changes.

What role does smart solar urban infrastructure play in the energy transformation?

Harnessing solar energy to fuel infrastructure like bus shelters or charging stations for micromobility eliminates the reliance on conventional power sources. This significantly aids in reducing a city or organization’s carbon footprint by avoiding the use of electricity from high-emission power plants, which are prevalent in Poland due to its coal-based energy production. Solar chargers for scooters and electric bicycles, in particular, offer a dual advantage by promoting energy independence and encouraging users to opt for environmentally friendly modes of transportation.

Ecology, design, functionality – how do you manage to combine them?

Our remarkable achievements are primarily attributed to our exceptionally skilled team. Their profound expertise enables them to craft exceptional products that excel in both technical and aesthetic aspects.

Over the course of 7 years, we have dedicated ourselves to refining our products with an unwavering commitment to enhancing their quality. This dedication is evident in the evolution of our solar benches, which represent our oldest product line and showcase substantial improvements over time.

Why do you focus on off-grid solutions?

Our core emphasis lies in the advancement of energy-independent products. This focus is driven by their eco-friendliness, cost-effective operation, and straightforward installation. It’s important to highlight that we leverage and continue to enhance SEEDiA’s patented energy management system. This system relies on weather forecasts and dynamically assigns priorities to devices based on real-time power availability, ensuring uninterrupted hardware and software functionality throughout the year, regardless of weather conditions.

How do ESG strategies and modified regulations change the market for solutions for the public sector?

We note the growing awareness of public institutions in the context of the need to move towards the so-called “ net-zero cities ”. Cities are increasingly looking for partners who will help them achieve the ambitious climate goals set by officials from Brussels. Residents’ knowledge about ecology is also increasing , and they are more likely to choose solutions with a smaller carbon footprint, replacing cars with public transport or bicycles – this social pressure is noticed by officials who choose solutions for their local communities.

What does it look like in the private sector?

In the upcoming years, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting will extend beyond international corporations to encompass smaller companies as well. This shift prompts businesses of all sizes to seek fresh methods for enhancing their processes and implementing innovations that will have a favorable impact on decreasing their organizations’ carbon footprint. The adoption of our charging stations for bicycles and electric scooters, which many employees use for their commutes, enables employers to report zero-emission journeys for those who opt for these modes of transport. This, in turn, contributes to lowering the overall emission intensity associated with commuting to work within a given company.

What role do your products play in the concept of 15-minute cities?

Transport solutions like solar bus shelters and jCharge charging stations align effectively with the concept of 15-minute cities. They help promote and facilitate micromobility, encouraging residents to transition from conventional gasoline-powered cars to options like public transportation, electric scooters, or bicycles. These products are designed to foster cities that prioritize the well-being of their citizens, ensuring that commuting to work or enjoying the outdoors is a delightful experience.

How do you support changing habits when traveling to work?

The jCharge charging stations we offer encourage environmentally friendly commuting by providing a convenient location for users to park and charge their electric scooters or bikes. By installing these chargers in office buildings, we not only promote micromobility as an alternative to traditional transportation but also empower building managers and employers to report a reduction in their organization’s carbon footprint, which can be included in their ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) report.

Is there InCity?

InCity is a highly adaptable platform designed for the remote management of smart cities. It offers real-time monitoring of data collected by our devices and allows for dynamic control, such as adjusting the display schedule on information kiosk screens. The platform also processes the gathered data, transforming it into valuable insights, including metrics like the CO2 emissions reduced or the clean energy generated by solar panels.

In what direction do you want to develop?

We are committed to broadening our range of offerings for corporate clients (B2B) and maintaining a strong presence in the public sector (B2G), which is well reflected in our new website. Our primary focus is on creating products that help urban residents minimize their carbon footprint, including solar charging stations and bus shelters. However, we remain dedicated to our flagship product line, the solar benches. A crucial element of SEEDiA’s development strategy is the increased use of low-emission materials, such as composite materials.