May 2025

How Wind Fences Tackle Biomass Dust: Safe, Efficient, and Proven Solutions

Biomass has incredible energy potential—but if left unmanaged, dust can become a disruptive player on the field, creating safety hazards, operational challenges, and combustible dust risks. Enter the wind fence: the no-nonsense “referee” that keeps biomass dust in check. Consider a biomass facility in South America where wind and conveyors were contributing to dust generation and erosion from wood chip stockpiles.

Large pile of wood chips next to an industrial conveyor belt and metal structure, with tall safety netting and a partly cloudy sky overhead.

WeatherSolve Structures designed a site- specific solution. The custom engineered wind fence was a 430 m-long, 33 m-high cathedral- style fence using advanced porous proprietary fabric panels.

An industrial construction site with large cylindrical structures, cranes, and scaffolding, surrounded by netting and equipment, set in a hilly area with trees and buildings in the background.

The result? Dramatic dust reduction without disrupting site operations, improved safety, and minimized environmental impact on surrounding communities. In high-stakes biomass operations, dust is a rowdy player that can cause combustible dust explosions, equipment damage, or community complaints. With a well-designed wind fence as the “referee,” facilities can manage dust safely, protect personnel, and maintain smooth operations. Wind fence referees keep unruly dust benched.

A window open to a pipe.
Read the full article in Dry Cargo International to see how wind fences are scoring big in biomass dust control.

Check out page 74

Dry Cargo International