UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI GUGLIELMO MARCONI - TELEMATICA

Their core work

Guglielmo Marconi University is an Italian online (telematic) university based in Rome with a focused research line in biomass gasification and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems. Their H2020 work centers on converting residual biomass into clean energy through integrated gasification-fuel cell combined heat and power (CHP) plants, including CO2 capture and conversion. They have coordinated two significant energy projects tackling the full chain from biomass feedstock through gas cleaning to electricity generation. A smaller thread connects them to rail communication systems, suggesting broader engineering competence beyond their energy core.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

USGM's early H2020 work (2019-2020) focused on the fundamentals of biomass gasification, gas cleaning technologies (sorbents, tar catalysts, ceramic filters), and carbon capture — the upstream process engineering. Their more recent projects (2021 onward) shift toward system integration: flexifuel SOFC operation, hydrogen admixture into biogas streams, and combined heat-and-power optimization. The AB4Rail participation in 2021 represents a brief diversification into transport communications, though energy remains their clear anchor.

Moving from component-level gasification research toward integrated multi-fuel SOFC-CHP systems, suggesting readiness for demonstration-scale energy projects.

How they like to work

USGM splits evenly between coordinating and participating — they led both BLAZE and GICO (their largest projects by budget), showing willingness and capacity to manage EU consortia. With 32 unique partners across 11 countries from just 4 projects, they build broad European networks rather than relying on a small circle. For a telematic university, this coordination track record is notable and suggests a proactive, well-connected research group rather than a passive participant.

Despite having only 4 projects, USGM has built a network of 32 unique partners across 11 countries, indicating large consortium sizes and broad European reach typical of energy RIA projects.

What sets them apart

USGM occupies an unusual niche: a telematic (online) university that coordinates substantial energy research projects. Their specific strength is the integration of gasification with fuel cells and carbon capture — bridging biomass processing and clean power generation in a single chain. For consortium builders, they offer proven coordination capacity from Rome combined with deep expertise in gas-to-power pathways that few single partners can cover end-to-end.

Highlights from their portfolio

• GICO
  Largest budget (EUR 800K), coordinated by USGM, combines gasification with CO2 capture and conversion — an ambitious full-chain decarbonization approach.
• BLAZE
  Coordinated by USGM, integrates small-to-medium scale biomass gasification directly with solid oxide fuel cells for zero-emission CHP — a rare end-to-end energy system project.