en.Wedoany.com Reported - Scottish floating wind technology developer Encomara has received Product Design Assessment (PDA) approval from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for its Squid floating offshore wind installation system. This is a key certification milestone following the ABS Approval in Principle (AiP) in November 2025, marking progress toward commercial deployment.
The Squid technology integrates pre-installed mooring lines and electrical connections into a single subsea unit. The system allows for pre-installation of subsea infrastructure, connecting floating wind turbines through a simplified "plug-and-play" process. Modeling studies supported by Scottish Enterprise and offshore wind developers show that compared to traditional methods, the technology can reduce installation time by up to 50%, while increasing the weather window available for installation operations and supporting tow-to-port maintenance strategies. Encomara estimates that for each gigawatt of floating wind capacity, this method could save developers up to $1.34 billion (£1 billion).
Before issuing the PDA, ABS conducted a detailed technical review of the system against classification society and industry requirements for floating offshore wind applications. Following this certification, onshore demonstrations are planned for July at Aurora Energy Services (AES) facilities in Huntly, Scotland, followed by nearshore testing and customer demonstrations in Ardersier in August.
Ian Donald, Managing Director of Encomara, stated that the Squid system enables rapid connection of floating wind turbines after pre-installing mooring lines and cables, reducing risk and potentially doubling the number of turbines installable within a typical season, addressing a key constraint for completing gigawatt-scale floating wind farms. The technology has entered the practical testing phase, with development, manufacturing, and certification completed in Scotland, targeting application in global floating wind projects.
Encomara added that patents for the Squid system have been granted in Europe, Asia, and Australia. AES's Huntly facility has been identified as a potential manufacturing hub to support large-scale deployment of the technology.
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
