Heritage Cases

Sutherland Wind Farm (Pty) Ltd received Environmental Authorisation (EA) (DFFE Ref: 12/12/20/1782/2) dated 10 November 2016 and further amendments to the EA dated, 25 November 2016, 25 August 2017, 10 March 2020, 08 June 2020, 20 July 2021 and the latest 06 December 2021 for the development of a 140MW Sutherland Wind Energy Facility (WEF) and associated infrastructure, in the Northern and Western Cape Provinces. The Sutherland Wind Farm (Pty) Ltd also received EAs for a new proposed onsite substation and associated electrical grid infrastructure to support issued on 14 March 2022 for the Sutherland WEF in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. The EA for the onsite substation has been split into an Independent Power Producer (IPP) Portion EA Reference 14/12/16/3/3/1/2458, Switching Station Portion and 132kV powerline EA Reference 14/12/16/3/3/1/2457. Sutherland Wind Farm (Pty) Ltd has also been issued with an EA for Electrical Grid Infrastructure that supports the Sutherland, Sutherland 2 and Rietrug WEF, Northern & Western Cape Provinces (Ref; 14/12/16/3/3/1/2077/AM2) authorised within a 500m grid corridor, this infrastructure consists of a 132kV overhead powerline, 400kV Main Transmission Substation (MTS) and 400kV powerline. A detailed description of the project infrastructure related to the IPP portion of the on-site substation and associated infrastructure is discussed below. The infrastructure associated with the IPP Portion of the on-site substation (DFFE Ref:. 14/12/16/3/3/1/2458) is located on Remaining Extent of Nooitgedacht Farm 148 and includes:  An IPP portion of the on-site substation (Acrux);  Laydown area;  Operation & Maintenance (O&M) Building;  Fencing of the proposed on-site substation  Battery Energy Storage Infrastructure (BESS) The Generic EMPr associated with the IPP Portion of the on-site substation and the EMPr for the BESS and underground cabling have not been approved as per the EA and will be made available for public review and comment as part of the public participation process. It must be noted that the IPP portion of the on-site substation is located on Remainder of Farm Nooitgedact 148, which is the same property as the Sutherland Wind Energy Facility (DFFE Ref: 12/12/1782/2/AM6), therefore all management plans as developed by the specialists and EAP are applicable to the IPP portion of the onsite substation. As the IPP portion of the on-site substation is located within the authorised Sutherland WEF site, the specialists undertaking the pre-construction walkthrough’s as specified below have considered the IPP portion of the substation with the WEF. In this regard, Sutherland Wind Farm (Pty) Ltd. is preparing prepared the Environmental Management Programme report’s and Final Layout for review and comment. In accordance with Environmental Authorisation issued, the Sutherland Wind Energy Facility and associated grid infrastructure, the relevant EMPr’s and Site Layout are available for a 30-day public comment and review period from 08 December 2022 to 30 January 2023 (both days inclusive).