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 46
3.3.1 Construction and operation of the proposed solar energy facility
The preliminary focus area of the proposed solar energy facility, as was assessed by the
specialists, is given in Figure 3.8 and the revised layout in Figure 3.4. Details of the proposed
project are summarised in Table 3.5.
Table 3.5: Summary of proposed solar infrastructure components, size, footprints and
land requirements
Component Size (m) Footprint (m 2) Land Requirement (ha)
1 072 000 x 280 W Panels (estimated)
225 MW
Panel height: 10 or 16 ±3-4 hectares per MW 675 – 900
Access Roads Width: 6-10
Length: ~15 km
Included in above Included in above
Substation 200 x 200 40 000 4
Operation and maintenance building 50 x 504 2500 0.25
Construction camp and storage area 100 x 100 10 000 1
A gravel surface access road of approximately 6-10 m wide would also be required to reach the
array. Cables connecting the arrays would interconnect with overhead transmission lines that
would follow the route of the access roads.
The array would each have an inverter to change the voltage from direct to alternating current. .
The electricity distribution infrastructure would comprise of one transmission line (132, 220 or
400 kV) traversing the site. The proposed project would connect to the grid via an onsite
substation. The proposed route to the substation is approximately 1 km long. At the substation
the voltage would be increased and evacuated via the 220 kV Eskom power line (or future 132
– 400 kV) crossing the northern portion of the site (see Figure 3.5).
The onsite Nama Aggeneys 220 kV line would be turned into the main solar PV substation
(Areb).The substation will consist of medium (22- 66 kV) to high voltage transformation (220 –
400 kV) with the associated Eskom required switchgear, telecommunications, storage, control
room, access road, bus bars, overhead gantries, fencing and all other generic substation
infrastructure. There would be a single track gravel access road for maintenance purpose to the
substation.
The existing line would be turned into and out of (looping in and looping out of the proposed
Areb Substation) with two separate overhead 220 kV lines of approximately maximum length of
1 km. There will be a single track gravel access road for maintenance purpose to the two lines.
The transmission lines would be routed within a 200m corridor (i.e. 100 m on either side) which
will allow for minor servitude alignment deviations should sensitive features be identified during
the construction phase.
The total substation size is expected to be a maximum of 200 x 200 m or 4 ha.
The proposed solar energy facility would be constructed in three 75 MW phases. The timing of
phases would depend on the developer's success in the respective renewable energy IPP
bidding rounds. The timing and format of the bidding rounds as decided by DOE, and the
available grid capacity as determined by Eskom on the grid.
© Aurecon (2012) No unauthorised reproduction, copy
or adaptation, in whole or in part, may be made.
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