On Founding Day: Steps Energy Celebrates the Future with Energy from the Heart of Saudi Soil
Engineer · Hani Mahmoud Taibah
A Geothermal Pioneer Leading Saudi Arabia's Clean-Energy Future
The founder of Steps Energy reveals a three-decade journey from conventional electricity to renewable energy solutions supporting Vision 2030
30+ Years of Experience
2017: Company Founded
2030: Vision Target
Who Is Engineer Hani Mahmoud Taibah?
Hani Mahmoud Taibah is the founder and CEO of Steps Energy, a Saudi company specializing in renewable energy solutions, with a focus on heating and cooling systems powered by geothermal energy.
He has more than thirty years of experience in the energy sector, beginning at Saudi Cable Company on power-station and infrastructure projects, then moving into specialist consulting before founding his own platform in 2017 to lead a genuine shift toward clean energy in the Kingdom.
A Three-Decade Journey Toward the Future
The Beginning · Saudi Cable Company
Starting at the Heart of Infrastructure
The journey began with power stations and electricity transmission infrastructure. There, he gained direct insight into the Kingdom's energy consumption and efficiency challenges, planting a fundamental question in his mind: how can we do this more cleanly?
The Consulting Phase
Moving into Specialist Consulting
He worked as an independent electricity-sector consultant for private companies, giving him a broad view of the market, a network of relationships, and a deep understanding of investors' and decision-makers' needs.
2017 · The Major Turning Point
Founding Steps Energy
With the launch of the King Salman Renewable Energy Initiative, the right moment arrived. Hani Taibah established Steps Energy as a specialist platform to turn expertise into practical projects that reduce costs and support Vision 2030 sustainability targets.
Founding Day is not merely a historical occasion, but a reminder that the Kingdom's economic identity has rested from the beginning on initiative, trade, and openness to markets. Today, Saudi Vision 2030 recasts this legacy in a modern form. Engineer Hani Mahmoud Taibah
Key Challenges and How He Overcame Them
Challenges
Convincing the Market of the Technology
The difficulty of marketing geothermal cooling compared with familiar conventional solutions.
Lack of Ready-Made Business Models
Designing new financial and legal models for “Energy as a Service” projects from scratch.
Building a Specialist Team
Finding talent that combines engineering expertise with an investment mindset.
Solutions
Pilot Projects
Demonstrating the technology's viability with figures from specific projects before scaling up.
Strategic Partnerships
Partnering with local and international organizations to strengthen credibility and reach.
Training Saudi Talent
Investing in preparing and training young Saudis within the company.
How Does Steps Energy Support the Kingdom's Vision?
Building Cooling
Cooling mosques, hotels, and facilities using geothermal energy to reduce electricity consumption.
Investment Models
Designing business models that enable investors to enter commercially viable clean-energy projects.
Knowledge Transfer
Adapting international expertise to local regulations and standards to serve the Saudi market.
Key Initiatives and Projects
Cooling Studies for Mosques and Major Facilities
Reducing electricity bills and pressure on the national grid through geothermal energy.
Energy Projects in Agriculture
Solar and geothermal energy models that lower water-pumping costs and improve resource efficiency.
Feasibility Studies Across the Kingdom
Opportunities for local contractors, suppliers, and engineering firms in renewable energy sectors.
The Most Attractive Sectors in the Coming Years
Solar Energy
Geothermal Energy
Energy Storage
Green Hydrogen
Tourism and Hospitality
Artificial Intelligence
Strategic Mining
Smart Agriculture
The Kingdom in Light of Vision 2030
The Kingdom's future is very promising, not only because of its clear goals and megaprojects, but because of how this Vision is managed. Treating the Vision as a living framework open to review and development, rather than a rigid text, is the conduct of a confident state, not a hesitant one. Citizens feel their future is in trustworthy hands that do not settle for slogans, but monitor, correct, and build. Engineer Hani Mahmoud Taibah
Energy as a Service
Expanding the “Energy as a Service” model in agriculture—the customer buys thermal kilowatts under a long-term contract without capital expenditure pressure.
Community Facility Solutions
An integrated package for mosques and community facilities, including geothermal cooling and energy management linked to corporate social responsibility programs.
