Journal of Agriculture
and Environmental Sciences

Pellets Production from Olive Tree Byproducts and Residues: A case study in Crete – Greece
John Vourdoubas

Abstract
Wood pellet is a renewable solid fuel which finds broad applications mainly for heating buildings all over the world. Wood pellets constitute a non conventional fuel with neutral impacts to the greenhouse effect and they are produced from various agricultural and forest wastes, byproducts and residues. Olive trees are cultivated in the island of Crete – Greece as well as in many other Mediterranean countries producing large quantities of olive oil. Various byproducts and residues of the Olive trees like olive tree wood, olive Kernel wood and olive tree prunings are produced in large quantities and some of them are utilized currently for heat generation in Crete. These olive byproducts and residues have very good burning characteristics and they can be used for the production of wood pellets in Crete. Economic assessment of a pellets production plant in Crete proves that their production under various conditions is economically viable offering additional social and environmental benefits.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jaes.v4n2a9