On New Year’s Eve, Enviva LP opened its deep water terminal at Virginia’s Port of Chesapeake. The first shipment, consisting of 28,000 metric tons of wood pellets, is destined for Europe aboard the MV Daishin Maru. 

Enviva acquired the deep water terminal last January to handle up to three million tons of biomass export to international customers. The company constructed a 157-foot-tall silo at the site, able to store 45,000 metric tons of wood pellets at a time and withstand extreme weather conditions due to its technologically advanced design.

Enviva selected the Port of Chesapeake due to its deep water capacity and ability to handle a variety of vessels, as well as its access to international markets and proximity to biomass sources and other company operations. The company already has a facility in the region, and announced its plans to build a 454,000 metric ton wood pellet manufacturing facility in Southampton County, Va., this past November. The $75 million investment will create 64 new full-time jobs, plus the additional jobs created through the company’s logging supply chain.

With demand for renewable sources of energy expected to increase, Enviva, a leader in biomass fuel manufacturing, is well-positioned for growth. The company expects its facility at the Port of Chesapeake to be a “flagship operation,” as it is ideally situated close to the biomass supply chain with the capabilities to reach global customers. 

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