Final EIAR - Aurecon AME Environmental | Environmental Projects

Proposed Wind and Solar (Photovoltaic) Energy Facilities on Kangnas Farm near Springbok in the Northern Cape: Final EIR ii
3.1 The need for the proposed activity .......................................................................... 29
3.2 Description of the proposed activities ...................................................................... 32
3.2.1 Wind Energy Facility project ..................................................................... 32
3.2.2 Components of a wind turbine .................................................................. 32
3.2.3 Construction and operation of the proposed wind energy facility .............. 35
3.2.4 Decommissioning of the proposed wind energy facility ............................. 40
3.3 Solar Energy Facility Project ................................................................................... 41
3.3.1 Construction and operation of the proposed solar energy facility .............. 46
3.3.2 Decommissioning phase of the proposed solar energy facility .................. 48
3.4 Consideration of alternatives ................................................................................... 48
3.4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................... 48
3.4.2 Location alternatives ................................................................................. 49
3.4.3 Activity alternatives ................................................................................... 50
3.4.4 Site layout alternatives.............................................................................. 50
3.4.5 Technology alternatives ............................................................................ 51
3.4.6 Summary of alternatives ........................................................................... 52
4 ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND POSSIBLE MITIGATION MEASURES
55
4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 55
4.2 Operational phase impacts on biophysical environment .......................................... 56
4.2.1 Impact on Flora ........................................................................................ 56
4.2.2 Impact on avifauna (birds) ........................................................................ 64
4.2.3 Impact on bats .......................................................................................... 73
4.3 Operational phase impacts on socio-economic environment ................................... 77
4.3.1 Visual impacts .......................................................................................... 77
4.3.2 Impact on climate change ......................................................................... 85
4.3.3 Impact on local and regional economy ...................................................... 87
4.3.4 Operational phase impacts on social environment .................................... 92
4.3.5 Impact on agricultural land ........................................................................ 95
4.3.6 Impact on freshwater ................................................................................ 99
4.3.7 Impact of noise ....................................................................................... 104
4.4 Construction phase impacts on the biophysical and .............................................. 107
4.4.2 Disturbance of avifauna .......................................................................... 108
4.4.3 Disturbance of bats ................................................................................. 109
4.4.4 Sedimentation and erosion of watercourses ........................................... 110
4.4.5 Impact on heritage resources ................................................................. 111
4.4.6 Impact on palaeontology ......................................................................... 119
4.4.7 Impact on socio-economic environment .................................................. 126
4.4.8 Impact on Agriculture .............................................................................. 127
4.4.9 Impact on transport ................................................................................. 128
4.4.10 Noise pollution ........................................................................................ 129
4.6 Compliance with Equator principles ...................................................................... 137
5 CONCLUSIONS AND WAY FORWARD ....................................................................... 138
5.1 Conclusions .......................................................................................................... 138
5.3 Operational phase impacts .................................................................................... 141
5.4 Cumulative impacts ............................................................................................... 142
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