The ‘SQUID’ system designed by Encomara, the Aberdeen-based floating wind deployment systems and subsea engineering specialist, and manufactured by Aurora Energy Services, is aimed at fundamentally improving the way floating offshore wind turbines are installed, and has received product design approval (PDA) from the ABS, the American Bureau of Shipping.

The PDA marks the next stage of international certification following approval in principle (AIP) granted last November for Squid, which has been developed by.

What is described as a ‘pioneering’ connection solution integrates pre-installed mooring lines and electrical connections into a single subsea unit. Whereas conventional installation requires multiple vessels and sequential operations spread across unpredictable weather windows, the patented new technology allows rapid pre-installation of all subsea infrastructure, enabling floating wind turbines be installed more efficiently and safely with ‘plug & play’ simplicity.

Modelling studies, supported by Scottish Enterprise and key developers, estimate that Squid could half 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, strongly suggests 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 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 is scheduled for July at the Aurora Energy Services (AES) facility in Huntly, Scotland, followed by inshore wet testing and customer demonstrations at Ardersier, in August.

Encomara’s MD Ian Donald, commented: “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 number of turbines that can be installed in a typical season, which tackles a key constraint in GW scale floating wind farm completion. We are drawing on our collective North Sea marine and engineering experience and applying it directly to one of the most pressing challenges in energy transition.”

Squid is supported by Scottish Enterprise and the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership and patents are secured across Europe, Asia and Australia. The Huntly facility has been identified as a potential site for high-volume manufacturing as the technology scales towards commercial deployment.

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