Final EIAR - Aurecon AME Environmental | Environmental Projects

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Proposed Wind and Solar (Photovoltaic) Energy Facilities on Kangnas Farm near Springbok in the Northern Cape: Final EIR 146 Based on the significance of the potential impacts, summarised in Section 5.3 and 5.5, the EAP is of the opinion that the proposed wind and solar energy facilities and associated substations, including alternatives, being applied for be authorised as the benefits outweigh the negative environmental impacts. The significance of negative impacts can be reduced with effective and appropriate mitigation through a Life-Cycle EMP, as described in this report. If authorised, the implementation of an EMP should be included as a condition of approval. It should be noted that the Department of Energy’s (DoE) current renewable energy procurement program has capped the maximum size of wind and solar energy projects at 140 MW and 75 MW respectively. While there has been no formal information about the project size cap being lifted various discussions within the industry to increase or remove the cap all together are taking place. The main drivers for lifting the cap would include: • Achieving the targets set by the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2010 (11 400 MW of new build renewable energy). After the first two rounds of the DoE’s procurement process Eskom’s distribution grid is already getting congested and in locations where there is good wind and solar resource the distribution grid capacity will be limited and only smaller projects will be able to connect (< 30 MW). That will require larger projects to connect to Eskom’s transmission grid which is much more expensive and time consuming. To ensure affordable projects connecting to transmission grid, projects will need to be larger than the current caps to continue the current pricing levels as seen in Round 2; • To achieve the local economic development goals quicker and with larger impact; • To get more energy onto the grid at a faster pace to aid in ensuring South Africa’s energy security. South Africa will not be able to achieve the IRP targets with project sizes being limited by grid capacity and financial viability; • To ensure South Africa’s renewable energy becomes even more affordable. The Kangnas wind and solar projects have been developed at a large scale with a longer term vision that the project cap will be lifted. The wind and solar projects have been developed to allow for phases of 75 MW (solar) and 140 MW (wind) to allow the developer flexibility in the future to suit the future procurement requirements in terms of size. As the only grid connection for the Kangnas site is the Nama/Aggeneys 220 kV transmission line, a 140 MW wind or 75 MW solar project will not be competitive nor affordable. The minimum size for a wind project at the Kangnas site, which would be competitive and affordable and hence a viable option for DoE to select, would be 280 MW, thus two of the proposed four phases. Phase A and B would be preferred by the developer due to the superior resource and limited environmental impacts of these phases. The minimum size for a solar project at the Kangnas site, which would be competitive and affordable and hence a viable option for DoE to select, would be 225 MW, thus all three of the proposed phases. It should be noted that Eskom’s current future planning for the Nama/Aggeneys 220 kV line is to upgrade to 400 kV. Should Eskom embark on the 400 kV upgrade in the near future all four © Aurecon (2012) No unauthorised reproduction, copy or adaptation, in whole or in part, may be made. P:\Projects\108495 Kangnas WEF & PV EIA's\3 Project Delivery\4 Reports\FEIR\FEIR 210213 Final.doc
Proposed Wind and Solar (Photovoltaic) Energy Facilities on Kangnas Farm near Springbok in the Northern Cape: Final EIR 147 phases (560 MW) of the proposed Kangnas wind farm would be required in order for the project to be affordable. 5.7 WAY FORWARD The Draft EIR was lodged at the Springbok and Pofadder Libraries and on the Aurecon website (www.aurecongroup.com/) (change “Current Location” to South Africa and follow the public participation link). All registered I&APs were notified of the availability of the Draft EIR by means of a letter, which included a copy of the Draft EIR Executive Summary. I&APs had until 14 January 2013 to submit written comment on the Draft EIR to Aurecon. I&APs were invited to a public meeting on 12 December 2012 to present and discuss the findings of the Draft EIR at Springbok Exhibition Hall (Skousaal) at 11h00-13h00. I&APs are requested to RSVP by 7 December 2012 and should the number of RSVP’s be insufficient the meeting would be cancelled and I&APs would instead be contacted telephonically/electronically to discuss any issues and concerns they may have. The Final EIR has been completed with the addition of any I&AP comments received. The Final EIR will then be submitted to the Northern Cape DEANC and DEA for their review and decisionmaking, respectively. The Final EIR has been made available for review at the same locations as the Draft EIR. Any comments received on the Final EIR will not be included in a Comments and Response Report and will instead be collated and forwarded directly to DEA. Once DEA has reviewed the Final EIR, they will need to ascertain whether the EIA process undertaken met the legal requirements and whether there is adequate information to make an informed decision. Should the above requirements be met, they will then need to decide on the environmental acceptability of the proposed projects. Their decision will be documented in an Environmental Authorisation, which will detail the decision, the reasons therefore, and any related conditions. Following the issuing of the Environmental Authorisations, DEA’s decision will be communicated by means of a letter to all registered I&APs and the appeal process will commence, during which any party concerned will have the opportunity to appeal the decision to the Minister of Environmental Affairs in terms of NEMA. © Aurecon (2012) No unauthorised reproduction, copy or adaptation, in whole or in part, may be made. P:\Projects\108495 Kangnas WEF & PV EIA's\3 Project Delivery\4 Reports\FEIR\FEIR 210213 Final.doc
Page 1 and 2:
PROPOSED WIND AND SOLAR (PHOTOVOLTA
Page 3 and 4:
OMGEWINGSINVLOEDBEPALING: BEOOGDE A
Page 5 and 6:
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT: PR
Page 7 and 8:
OMGEWINGSINVLOEDBEPALING: BEOOGDE A
Page 9 and 10:
wat elk ongeveer 40 x 5 m groot is.
Page 11 and 12:
Die Kangas wind- en sonenergie proj
Page 13 and 14:
o Twee alternatiewe tegnologieë vi
Page 15 and 16:
IMPAK BEDRYFSFASE IMPAKTE 1.1 1.2 2
Page 17 and 18:
Ten einde onnodige OM-wysigings te
Page 19 and 20:
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT: PR
Page 21 and 22:
The fundamental difference between
Page 23 and 24:
EIA Process EIA Regulations (Regula
Page 25 and 26:
Identified impacts The EIR has prov
Page 27 and 28:
IMPACT OPERATIONAL PHASE IMPACTS 1.
Page 29 and 30:
In order to limit unnecessary EA am
Page 31 and 32:
Proposed Wind and Solar (Photovolta
Page 33 and 34:
Page 35 and 36:
Page 37 and 38:
Page 39 and 40:
Page 41 and 42:
Page 43 and 44:
Page 45 and 46:
Page 47 and 48:
Page 49 and 50:
Page 51 and 52:
Page 53 and 54:
Page 55 and 56:
Page 57 and 58:
Page 59 and 60:
Page 61 and 62:
Page 63 and 64:
Page 65 and 66:
Page 67 and 68:
Page 69 and 70:
Page 71 and 72:
Page 73 and 74:
Page 75 and 76:
Page 77 and 78:
Page 79 and 80:
Page 81 and 82:
Page 83 and 84:
Page 85 and 86:
Page 87 and 88:
Page 89 and 90:
Page 91 and 92:
Page 93 and 94:
Page 95 and 96:
Page 97 and 98:
Page 99 and 100:
Page 101 and 102:
Page 103 and 104:
Page 105 and 106:
Page 107 and 108:
Page 109 and 110:
Page 111 and 112:
Page 113 and 114:
Page 115 and 116:
Page 117 and 118:
Page 119 and 120:
Page 121 and 122:
Page 123 and 124:
Page 125 and 126:
Page 127 and 128:
Page 129 and 130:
Page 131 and 132:
Page 133 and 134:
Page 135 and 136: Proposed Wind and Solar (Photovolta
Page 185: Proposed Wind and Solar (Photovolta
show all

Final EIAR - Aurecon AME Environmental | Environmental Projects

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?