South Africa Mainstream Renewable Power Developments (Pty) Ltd (Mainstream) proposes to develop the Hanover Cluster of 11 renewable energy facilities comprising seven Solar Energy Facilities (SEFs), four Wind Energy Facilities (WEFs), 12 Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and 12 substations (11 on-site substations and one Main Transmission Substation [MTS]). The associated infrastructure comprises access roads and grid connections (132 kV powerlines) to evacuate energy from each SEF and WEF to the national grid.
The National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 (NEMA), and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, 2014 (promulgated in terms of NEMA) warrant that listed activities require Environmental Authorisation (EA) from the National Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE). Scoping and Environmental Reporting (S&EIR) processes must be followed for the SEFs, WEFs and MTS and Basic Assessment (BA) processes must be followed for 132 kV powerlines.
Twenty three separate S&EIR and BA processes will be undertaken for the individual projects in the Hanover Cluster as follows:
- 7 SEFs, each including 33 kV powerlines, BESS and an on-site substation;
- 4 WEFs, each including 33 kV powerlines, BESS and an on-site substation;
- 11x 132 kV powerlines connecting each on-site substation to the MTS; and
- An MTS, BESS and two alternative 400 kV powerlines that will link into existing 400 kV lines.
SRK Consulting (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd (SRK) has been appointed by Mainstream to compile the S&EIRs and BA Reports for the facilities in the Hanover Cluster in terms of NEMA and the EIA Regulations, 2014.
This project and associated Scoping Report relate to the 150MW Ufudo SEF and associated infrastructure, located within the Hanover Cluster.
The Draft Scoping Reports for the WEFs and MTS and the Draft BA Reports for the 132 kV Powerlines will only be released for public review and comment at a later stage. All registered stakeholders will be notified.
