Franco Cotana is a Full Professor of Industrial Technical Physics and currently leads Italy’s National Center for Biomass Research, located at the University of Perugia. He obtained a diploma with top honors at the State Technical Institute in 1976, and in 1983 he graduated cum laude in electrical engineering from the University of Rome La Sapienza. In 1991, he served as a Researcher in the scientific discipline of Environmental Technical Physics at the Energy Institute of the new Faculty of Engineering at the University of Perugia, and in 1998 became an Associate Professor. In 2001, he became a Full Professor of Industrial and Technical Physics in the Faculty of Engineering at the university to coordinate the Technical Physics section of the Department. In 2003, he founded the National Center for Research on Biomass (CRB), which he directed until June 2013 when the CRB was merged with CIRIAF, of which he was the contextual Director until 2015. Since 2010, he has been a member of the New York Academy of Sciences. He holds numerous patents related to biomass development and renewable energy. His research interests lie in renewable energy systems, green chemistry, and building physics. In 2007, the International Association of Energy Economists recognized his groundbreaking work by awarding him the organization’s Outstanding Contribution for 2006/2007.
Franco Cotana is a Full Professor of Industrial Technical Physics and currently leads Italy’s National Center for Biomass Research, located at the University of Perugia. He obtained a diploma with top honors at the State Technical Institute in 1976, and in 1983 he graduated cum laude in electrical engineering from the University of Rome La Sapienza. In 1991, he served as a Researcher in the scientific discipline of Environmental Technical Physics at the Energy Institute of the new Faculty of Engineering at the University of Perugia, and in 1998 became an Associate Professor. In 2001, he became a Full Professor of Industrial and Technical Physics in the Faculty of Engineering at the university to coordinate the Technical Physics section of the Department. In 2003, he founded the National Center for Research on Biomass (CRB), which he directed until June 2013 when the CRB was merged with CIRIAF, of which he was the contextual Director until 2015. Since 2010, he has been a member of the New York Academy of Sciences. He holds numerous patents related to biomass development and renewable energy. His research interests lie in renewable energy systems, green chemistry, and building physics. In 2007, the International Association of Energy Economists recognized his groundbreaking work by awarding him the organization’s Outstanding Contribution for 2006/2007.