Heritage Cases

South Africa Mainstream Renewable Power Developments (Pty) Ltd (‘Mainstream’) is proposing the development of (1) Main Transmission Substation (MTS) three (3) powerlines (namely 1 x 132kV powerline and 2 x 400kV powerlines), and one (1) Li-Ion Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), the associated electrical infrastructure, (the ‘proposed development’) that will connect to the authorised Solar Energy Facilities i.e. Kentani, Klipfontein, Klipfontein 2, Leliehoek, Sonoblomo, Braklaagte, Boschrand 2, Meeding, Irene and Braambosch, collectively known as the Kentani Cluster located near the town of Dealesville, Tokologo Local Municipality (Lejweleputswa District) in the Free State Province. The proposed development will also involve the re-routing of eight (8) 132kV powerlines within the grid connection corridor which has been authorised as part of the Kentani Cluster, making provision for this routing in the new proposed (Figure 1 1). The proposed development will also involve the re-routing of eight (8) 132kV powerlines within the grid connection corridor which has been authorised as part of the Kentani Cluster, making provision for this routing in the new proposed MTS. It should be noted that on 28 October 2021, the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe announced the Preferred Bidders of the Round 5 Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) (See Section2.2.7 for explanation on the REIPPPP) and six (6) of the aforementioned Solar Energy Facilities received Preferred Bidder status i.e.: • Kentani Solar PV • Klipfontein Solar PV • Klipfontein 2 Solar PV • Leliehoek Solar PV • Sonoblomo Solar PV • Braklaagte Solar PV These Solar Energy Facilities have now become Strategic Infrastructure Projects i.e. SIPs 8 and 10. SIPs 8 and 10 target the development of green energy in support of the South African economy and the provision of electricity transmission and distribution respectively: • SIP 8 supports sustainable green energy initiatives on a national scale through a diverse range of clean energy options as envisaged in the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP2010) and support bio-fuel production facilities. • SIP 10 Expand the transmission and distribution network to address historical imbalances, provide access to electricity for all and support economic development. Align the 10-year transmission plan, the services backlog, the national broadband roll-out and the freight rail line development to leverage off regulatory approvals, supply chain and project development capacity. The Kentani Cluster consists of eleven (11) solar PV projects and associated electrical infrastructure (including a powerline), each of which received their own Environmental Authorisation (EA) in 2016 from the then Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) [now referred to as the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE)]. The proposed MTS and associated infrastructure [i.e., eleven (11) powerlines] will service eleven (11) of Mainstream’s solar PV projects authorised as part of the Kentani Cluster. It should be noted that the proposed MTS and BESS will be located within the authorised Klipfontein PV facility (14/12/16/3/3/2/722), which is proposed on the Remaining Extent of the Farm Klipfontein No. 305 (SG Code: F00400000000030500000). Of the eleven (11) powerlines, eight (8) are 132kV powerlines which are located within the authorised corridor, and which have been included as part of the authorised solar PV developments. The remaining powerlines [i.e. two (2) 400kV and one (1) 132kV powerlines] fall outside of the authorised corridor and therefore will be assessed as part of the Basic Assessment (BA) process for the MTS and BESS (i.e., this application). Considering the above, it is important to note that the location of the proposed MTS, BESS and the corridors being proposed for the powerlines have previously been assessed as part of the development footprint for the Kentani Cluster of solar PV developments, each of which received their own EA in 2016 . Moreover, the proposed MTS, BESS and powerlines are located within the Kimberly Renewable Energy Development Zone and Central Strategic Transmission Corridor, as defined and in terms of the procedures laid out in Government Notices No. 113 and No. 145 which were formally gazetted on 16 February 2018 and 26 February 2021 respectively. Taking the above application requirements into consideration, Mainstream has appointed SLR Consulting (South Africa) Pty Ltd as the Independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) to undertake the required BA process for the proposed project