Encomara wins ABS design approval for simplified floating wind installation technology
Encomara wins ABS design approval for simplified floating wind installation technology
Publish Date: 2026-06-16 05:35:00
Source Domain: www.renewableenergymagazine.com
The PDA marks the next stage of international certification following approval in principle (AIP) granted last November for Squid, developed by the Aberdeen-based floating wind deployment systems and subsea engineering specialist.
The company’s pioneering connection solution integrates pre-installed mooring lines and electrical connections into a single subsea unit. Where conventional installation requires multiple vessels and sequential operations spread across unpredictable weather windows, the patented technology allows rapid pre-installation of all subsea infrastructure, enabling FOWTS to be installed more efficiently and safely with ‘plug & play’ simplicity.
Modelling studies, supported by Scottish Enterprise and key developers, estimate that Squid could halve the installation time, when compared to traditional methods. This faster assembly, combined with the benefits of increased weather windows and ‘tow to port’ maintenance strategies, means Squid can save developers £1 billion per gigawatt.
ABS completed a detailed review of the Squid system against class and industry requirements for floating offshore wind applications. The PDA follows Squid’s AIP certification received just seven months ago and represents the next step in the qualification pathway towards Technology Readiness Level assessment and commercial adoption. A series of onshore demonstrations are scheduled for July at the Aurora Energy Services (AES) facility in Huntly, followed by inshore wet testing and customer demonstrations at Ardersier, in August.
Encomara was founded in 2023 by four industry stalwarts including the original patent holder Malcolm Bowie, each with more than 30 years’ energy sector experience and was subsequently acquired by AES, one of the UK’s fastest growing renewable energy services businesses, in 2025.
“The Squid system allows pre-installation of moorings and cables followed by rapid hook up of the FOWT, thus reducing risk and potentially doubling the…
