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Project 16: Sparrow Solar Plant On-site Substation and associated Grid Infrastructure

Short Project Title

Sparrow Solar Plant On-site Substation and associated Grid Infrastructure, Stilfontein Solar PV Cluster, North West Province

Project Title

Basic Assessment for the Sparrow Solar Plant On-site Substation and associated Grid Infrastructure at the Stilfontein Solar PV Cluster, Stilfontein, North West Province,

SRK Project Reference Number

58187716

Official Reference Number

14/12/16/3/3/1/2860

SRK Project Manager

Kate Steyn

Contact Person

Asheerah Meyer

Contact Email

Ameyer@srk.co.za

Contact Number

021 659 3060

PROJECT SYNOPSIS

South Africa Mainstream Renewable Power Developments (Pty) Ltd (Mainstream) proposes to develop the Stilfontein Photovoltaic (PV) Cluster, ~6 km north-east of Stilfontein in North West Province. The Stilfontein Cluster (the ‘project area’) comprises:

  • Nine 150MW (max) PV facilities and associated infrastructure (11-33 kV transmission lines, a Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) per site and an Independent Power Producer (IPP)-side on-site substation per site);
  • Nine Eskom-side on-site substations and 132 kV transmission lines to evacuate power to the Main Transmission Station (MTS); and
  • MTS and 400 kV lines to the existing Hermes Pluto transmission lines.

 SRK was appointed by Mainstream to undertake the environmental processes required in terms of the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 (NEMA) and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, 2014, as amended, in support of applications for Environmental Authorisation (EA) for the various components of the project. Separate EAs are sought for the nineteen individual projects in the Stilfontein Cluster, as listed above, and EA was granted for the nine PV facilities in September 2023.

 The ten BA Reports for the Grid Connection Final Basic Assessment Reports (BARs) were released for public review between 23 October 2023 and 22 November 2023. All comments received were recorded and responded to in the Issues and Responses Summary (IRS), which has been appended to the Final BARs. The Final BARs were submitted to Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) between 31 January – 2 February 2024 for decision making.

 This BA Report (BAR) pertains to the Sparrow on-site substation and 132 kV transmission line to the 400kV MTS, referred to as the Sparrow grid infrastructure project.

PROJECT LOCATION

The Stilfontein Cluster is located ~20 km south-west of Potchefstroom and ~6 km north-east of Stilfontein, in the in the City of Matlosana and JB Marks Local Municipalities and Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality (DKKDM) in North West Province. The Stilfontein Cluster lies within the Klerksdorp Renewable Energy Development Zone (REDZ) and the Central Strategic Transmission Corridor (STC).

STATUS OF PROJECT

On 25 March 2024, DFFE granted an EA to Mainstream to develop the Sparrow Solar Plant On-site Substation and associated Grid Infrastructure at the Stilfontein Solar PV Cluster, Stilfontein, North West Province, in terms of the NEMA and the EIA Regulations, 2014, as amended.

 

The granting of the EA is subject to a number of conditions, which, along with the reasons for the decision, are set out in the EA (see link below). 

 

In terms of the National Appeal Regulations, 2014, any person wishing to appeal against the decision must submit an appeal to the Appeal Administrator (Appeals@dffe.gov.za), and forward a copy of the appeal to the applicant, all registered Interested and Affected Parties (IAPs) and any Organ of State with interest in the matter within 20 (twenty) days of the date of the notification (i.e. by 19 April 2024).

 

The contact details of registered IAPs and the applicant can be obtained from SRK on request via email (ctpp@srk.co.za) or phone  (+27 21 659 3060), so that appellants can submit copies of the appeal to the applicant and such IAPs.