RKS

Their core work

RKS is a French private company based in Avallon that contributes specialised technical expertise to tidal stream energy projects in Europe. In both of its H2020 engagements it participated as a third party — meaning it supplies specific capabilities, equipment, or services to consortia without holding a formal partner status or direct EC funding. Its involvement spans the full commercialisation arc of tidal technology, from floating tidal platform demonstrators (FloTEC) through to large-scale offshore deployment programmes targeting 2030 MW of installed capacity (FORWARD-2030). The appearance of Power-to-X in its most recent project keywords indicates the company is expanding its scope toward the integration of tidal generation with downstream energy conversion and storage systems.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

RKS's first H2020 project (FloTEC, 2016–2021) carried no specific keyword signature, suggesting a foundational contribution to floating tidal platform development — likely hardware, testing, or industrial support at component level. By the time FORWARD-2030 began in 2021, the company's profile had sharpened considerably: tidal stream energy, energy systems, and Power-to-X all appear, indicating a shift from device-level participation toward integrated energy system thinking. The trend is one of deepening specialisation combined with widening scope — from marine turbines toward the full value chain that converts tidal electricity into storable or grid-compatible energy carriers.

RKS appears to be positioning itself at the intersection of tidal generation and Power-to-X, which makes it a relevant partner for any consortium combining offshore renewables with hydrogen or synthetic fuel production.

How they like to work

RKS has operated exclusively as a third party in both of its H2020 projects, which means it enters consortia to provide a defined service or technical input rather than to lead or co-design the research agenda. Despite this limited formal role, it has accumulated 22 unique consortium partners — a high number for just two projects — suggesting it plugs into large, well-networked Innovation Actions. Working with RKS likely means engaging a focused technical supplier rather than a research co-investigator.

Through only two projects RKS has connected with 22 distinct consortium partners spanning 8 countries, reflecting the broad international consortia typical of large offshore energy Innovation Actions. Its network is European in scope, centred on the tidal energy cluster that includes UK, French, and northern European marine energy developers.

What sets them apart

RKS occupies a narrow but strategically valuable niche: it is one of a small number of non-SME private companies in France with direct H2020 project experience in tidal stream energy commercialisation. Its third-party model means it can be engaged flexibly without the overhead of full consortium membership, which is attractive for projects that need industrial input without adding a heavyweight partner. As offshore tidal energy moves from demonstration to deployment in the late 2020s, companies with this specific track record will be in short supply.

Highlights from their portfolio

• FORWARD-2030
  An ambitious Innovation Action targeting 2030 MW of deployed tidal capacity by 2030, with Power-to-X as an explicit output pathway — one of the largest tidal energy programmes in H2020.
• FloTEC
  An early-stage commercialisation project for floating tidal platforms (2016–2021) that gave RKS its foundational track record in bringing tidal technology from lab to market.