In order to overcome the main barriers that prevent renewable energy technologies from forming the backbone of the energy system, GICO develops new materials (CO2 capture sorbents; high temperature inorganic removal sorbents; catalytic filter candles; membranes for oxygen separation and methanol production) and technologies (Hydro Thermal Carbonisation; Sorption Enhanced Gasification; Hot Gas Conditioning; Carbon Capture, Storage and Use; Power To Gas via Plasma conversion) to:<br/>• produce intermediate solid (5 vs 15 €/MWh) and gaseous (10 vs 30 €/MWh with zero particulate and ppb contaminants level) bioenergy carriers;<br/>• capture CO2 (40 €/t vs 90 €/t) receiving waste high alkali content and producing bricks;<br/>• convert CO2 to CO and O2 (90 vs 10% efficiency) storing renewable electricity excess;<br/>• produce methanol (35 vs 75 €/MWh) and electricity (100 vs 200 €/MWh).<br/>GICO encompasses technology development (materials, processes, simulations, integrated system besides full-scale design) and assessment (techno-economical, environmental, social impacts and market) and dissemination activities. GICO activities are fully innovative and constitute a breakthrough (in materials and processes development and integration) involving methodological, technological and exploitation developments achieved previously by partners´ research over many years. The GICO activities aim at developing small to medium scale residual biomass plants (i.e. 2-20 t/day and 500-5,000 kWe, compatible with the standard residual biomass availability of few thousand tons per year) will change the actual social acceptance of the energy plants. They will no longer be seen as distant large consumers of resources and emitters of pollutants but as local small/medium plants connected to communities (for waste, materials and energy with negative/zero emissions) within the circular business model (industrial symbiosis with jointly located industries) that GICO promotes.