Issue 3 2021

22 Acquisition International - Issue 3 2021 Jan21159 Pioneers Of Alternative Energy As the global energy industry comes under intense scrutiny in the midst of the climate crisis, renewable solutions are at the fore of the industry’s attention. Axis Energy Projects is an independent specialist in offshore floating energy solutions, that has long championed the oil and gas industry and is now making significant impacts in the offshore wind and renewables sector. With its market-leading Tension Leg Buoy technology currently in the works, Axis is establishing itself as a pioneer of alternative energy. ounded in 2008, Axis Energy Projects is a leading independent global turnkey provider of mooring and fluid transfer systems for the offshore floating production industry of Oil and Gas and for the Offshore Wind and Renewables sector. Specialists in the design and delivery of subsea substructures, moorings and foundations, Axis provides sound, cost-efficient and effective solutions and project management consultancy for a worldwide clientele within floating production and subsea operations. Predominantly serving large, multinational oil and energy operators and Tier 1 Contractors, Axis seeks to work closely with its clients in order that they can strive towards clear, shared objectives. By listening to clients and gaining a well-rounded view of their issues and goals, Axis is able to deliver on its commitment to creating workable, robust, and affordable solutions and implementing them in a timely, fuss-free manner. The team at Axis brings together a wealth of experience and industry knowledge, with many among its ranks having been involved in the sector for more than four decades. Combining insights and connections from across the offshore industries in both Oil and Gas and Renewables, the Axis team is able to offer comprehensive service based on well-informed research and knowledge. The team of ambitious and highly qualified professionals are supported through career paths that develop key skills and acumen by a conscientious management team headed by Founder, John Baross. John, who was also the Founder and Managing Director of Dalriada Faber Limited and Sigma Offshore Limited, - where he coinvented the SMART Mooring and Fluid Transfer system - is the driving force for innovation in engineering solutions at Axis, empowering the solution provider in its leading position in an exciting field. With the global Offshore Wind industry seeing exponential acceleration due to increased levels of industry investment into the development of larger wind turbines, Axis’ expertise is becoming more sought after than ever. As Offshore Wind is set to play a major role in the decarbonisation targets being set around the world, it is estimated that approximately 80% of the areas across the planet that will be suitable will require floating solutions. Moreover, the increased requirement will be monumental, with the total amount of floating wind necessary on a global scale projected to be between 6,000 and 8,000 GW – an enormous leap from the current total installed Offshore Wind in the UK, which is less than 12 GW. However, although it will require a huge effort, it is by no means an impossible feat. Hundreds of thousands of turbines will need to be installed worldwide, and it is likely that the companies that engage F with floating solutions at an early stage will likely be the leaders of the market as it matures. Axis’ decades of combined experience in the industry will therefore continue to prove invaluable in supporting clients who rely on subsea structures, moorings and foundations. The Axis team boasts comprehensive expertise in Floating Production and Offshore Construction, Renewable Energy, ROV Engineering Support, Decommissioning and Extended Well Test Export Systems, which the firm employs to inform its specialised service offering. Clients are able to rely on Axis for design and delivery of their offshore mooring systems and foundations; turnkey provision of moored and DP tanker extended well test export systems; moorings and loading systems for FPSOs and FSOs; and installation engineering support, including deep-water IRM engineering solutions. Clients seeking design and analysis services can rely on Axis for mooring systems and foundations; submarine pipelines, flowlines, and risers; subsea structures; vessel and platform modifications; structural engineering and naval architecture; and complex analyses including Orcaflex, FEA and heat attenuation. Axis also offers 1800 metres of six-inch, high-grade Manuli hose to its clients either on lease or for sale to support offshore loading systems. Now, Axis is able to use its decades of experience in the design and delivery of subsea structures to champion the firm’s Tension Leg Buoy (TLB) Technology, a robust mooring system that comprises a subsurface buoy attached to a modular gravity base anchor or foundation on the seabed by tensioned tethers, in order to support the wind turbine above. Designed to control stability, roll and pitch, TLB technology is gaining popularity in the Offshore Renewable industry and could be a viable alternative to the traditional development of Offshore Wind in relatively shallow water using substructures fixed to the seabed. In these cases, wind resources located in water depths of sixty metres or more are not economically viable, despite the access to higher wind reserves. Industry estimates suggest that the implementation of TLB technology into these more lucrative areas could see Floating Offshore Wind achieve the delivery of 12 GW, valued at £32 billion, by 2030. Thus, the successful completion of the tank testing of Axis’ TLB technology at the University of Edinburgh’s FloWave facility is an exciting step towards accommodating this projected growth in demand. Compared with its competitors, Axis’ system demonstrated better stability performance, greater flexibility in installation and offshore transportation, and the ability to have a large percentage constructed locally, resulting in an overall cost that was between 15