Social trends of the people of the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace-Greece: About the potential of using biofuels from forest products residues

In the framework of enquiry of biomass usage possibilities in our country, a research was made through the whole Eastern Macedonia region, related to disposal possibilities from the production conveyors and usage possibilities from the region's residents and businessmen, of biofuels that come from mechanical wood treatment residues and from the residues of agricultural production, in wooden form, known with the term wood pellets or wood briquettes. From the present study, it came to light that there is an intense interest for direct personal usage and application of biomass for the residents or occupational spaces heating. The necessary biomass quantity for the entire region's households is estimated up to 205,520 t. From the biomass usage as a combustible material, a 680 €/year and household about, is made. The potential investments that will be made to the region seem to have a very short depreciation, but a business plan and a marketing plan syntax are considered as necessary for the result's maximisation. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2009.