Encomara Secures ABS Approval in Principle for SQUID Floating Wind Technology

Encomara, an Aurora Energy Services company, has taken a major step forward in developing a Scottish-led subsea innovation that could redefine global floating wind installation, with its SquidTM® system receiving Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).

The subsea mooring and connection system – SquidTM® – has been designed in Aberdeen to speed up and de-risk the installation of floating wind turbines. ABS, regarded as a global standard in offshore and subsea certification, granted AiP status in recognition of Squid’s unique design properties.

Rob Langford, ABS Vice President, Global Offshore Renewables, said:
“Floating offshore wind continues to evolve rapidly, and innovation in proven technologies such as disconnectable systems plays an important role in supporting safe and efficient deployment.”

SquidTM® integrates pre-installed mooring and electrical connections into a single modular subsea unit and can host multi-use infrastructure, including dynamic inter-array systems and hybrid generation models. Independent modelling indicates it could double deployment rates for floating turbines and significantly reduce costs by cutting exposure to weather delays and vessel downtime.

Encomara will now move towards full technical qualification and a system demonstration ahead of commercial launch. Prototype construction and factory acceptance testing are scheduled for Q1 2026, with offshore demonstrations planned for mid-2026. Patents have already been secured in Europe, Asia and Australia, and the company is continuing engagement with Scottish Enterprise, the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership and GB Energy to support commercialisation.

Through a separate collaboration with Ossian Wind Farm and Scottish Enterprise’s CAN DO Innovation Challenge Fund, Encomara has already demonstrated Squid’s potential to accelerate offshore wind build-out. The next phase will establish a ‘Squid-friendly hull’ standard with hull vendors to ensure seamless integration with emerging floating platform designs.

Encomara Managing Director, Ian Donald, said:
“The potential efficiency gains, not to mention improvements in project scheduling for offshore turbine operators, offer a game-changing value proposition of £1 billion per 1GW field. Obtaining ABS certification confirms our design meets international offshore standards and is an important step in realising the huge potential of Squid. We will now focus on full-scale qualification and demonstration to achieve the Technology Readiness Level required for commercial deployment.”

Donald, who has held senior roles at Venture, Apache and Neptune during a 40-year subsea career and previously founded Enpro Subsea and DES Operations Ltd, added:
“Squid is being developed and manufactured in Scotland, but the technology has far-reaching potential for offshore wind operators worldwide.”

Aurora Energy Services CEO, Doug Duguid, said:
“We acquired Encomara in early 2025 because we recognised the significant potential the SquidTM® system offers the offshore wind sector. We’re delighted this ground-breaking technology has reached a key approval milestone and look forward to supporting the team in bringing Squid to market.”

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