Industry News: Encomara’s first Squid connection system set to undergo inshore trials at Ardersier Energy Transition Facility

August 12, 2026
Industry News: Encomara’s first Squid connection system set to undergo inshore trials at Ardersier Energy Transition Facility
Around 130 Scottish jobs to be created as floating wind scales
Encomara, the Aberdeen floating wind and subsea engineering specialist, has begun preparations for inshore trials of its first Squid™ connection system for floating offshore wind turbines (FOWT) at the Ardersier Energy Transition Facility. The completion of the trials will be a significant milestone for a technology more than five years in development, and an important step towards commercial deployment.
The manufactured unique Squid quick connect solution supports mooring lines, power cables and all subsea connectors off the seabed, enabling pre-installation and subsequent rapid hook-up and disconnection of FOWTs. This significantly reduces risk during offshore construction and simplifies tow to port operations, which improves project reliability and enhances project insurability.
As the UK’s floating offshore wind sector ramps up over the next few years, the business, part of Aurora Energy Services, expects to scale alongside developer demand for its solution. This growth has the potential to create approximately 130 project delivery and manufacturing jobs at Aurora’s facilities in Huntly and Inverness by 2030.
Ian Donald, Managing Director of Encomara, said: “We received Product Design Assessment accreditation from the American Bureau of Shipping in June, and on completion of the trials at Ardersier this month will be certified to TRL8, proving that we are ready to start manufacturing to scale. No other solution addresses the developers’ problem the way our plug-and-play technology does.
“Latest modelling points to a saving of up to 15% of LCOE [Levelised Cost of Energy], driven by pre-installed mooring and cables and then faster connection when the FOWT arrives infield, reduced vessel costs and reduced lost production time. As floating wind around the world moves from pilot projects into full construction, we anticipate creating around 130 positions in Scotland over the next few years to support the number of Squids being manufactured to meet that demand.”
This is the first floating offshore project of its type to be launched at the newly developed Ardersier Energy Transition Facility. Mark Gillespie, Chief Commercial Officer at Haventus, which owns and operates the port said: “We welcome Encomara to Ardersier Port as it takes the next step in the development of its Squid technology. Supporting this programme provides an excellent demonstration of how the port can provide the space, access and infrastructure needed to advance new offshore energy technologies.
“With extensive deep-water access and significant development space, our ambition is to build a hub where offshore energy businesses can establish a presence, collaborate and grow. Encomara’s work at Ardersier is a strong example of that ambition becoming reality.”
The 40 tonnes Squid was transported from Huntly through Keith and Buckie before being transferred by vessel around the headland and offloaded at the Ardersier Energy Transition Facility. Situated 14 miles east of Inverness in the Moray Firth, the port has easy access to the North Sea.

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