Products Stored

Wood-Pellet Storage |

Scope of Work

Domes Height Diameter Capacity
#523 160ft 170ft 21,750t
#523 48.8m 51.8m 21,750t
#539 160ft 170ft 21,750t
#539 48.8m 51.8m 21,750t

Dome Technology builds two hurricane-resistant domes for Enviva

At the end of 2016 the Dome Technology team completed two domes for biomass manufacturer Enviva at Port of Wilmington, North Carolina.

With the likelihood of hurricane in mind, the pair of domes was engineered to withstand winds up to 300 mph. The domes will store pellets produced from Enviva’s Sampson plant, as well as additional regional wood-pellet production facilities that may be built in the future.

“Enviva is the biggest wood-pellet producer in the world. It’s just a joy to work with such a large, progressive company,” said Dome Technology sales manager Lane Roberts.

In the past five years Dome Technology has built four total domes for Enviva. The first two were constructed between 2011 and 2012 at the Port of Chesapeake in Virginia. The domes, which are nearly identical to those at the Port of Wilmington, stand 157 feet high and 176 feet in diameter and feature systems that continuously monitor and control interior temps.

For the Virginia project, Dome Technology’s team completed construction ahead of projected completion, even though the project started a month later than planned.

Domes provides ideal conditions for storing wood pellets. The airform surrounding the entire dome prevents water and moisture access. The dome’s insulated nature reduces heating and cooling of the walls and air inside, preventing condensation from forming on the interior. Layers of concrete, rebar, and insulation provide humidity control and moderate externally generated temperature fluctuations. For storage on a port, domes can be engineered with innovative foundation systems that provide ample support on soil near the water.

According to Enviva Senior Vice President Norb Hintz, the company has been pleased with Dome Technology’s work. “We appreciate the high-quality workmanship, professionalism and attention to detail demonstrated by their staff,” he said.