Heritage Cases

The proposed project is required for the authorised 400 Megawatts (MW) Mooi Plaats Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Energy Facility (SEF) and its associated infrastructure, (authorised by way of EA dated 8 June 2022 with reference number: 14/12/16/3/3/2/1134 and 14/12/6/3/3/1/2132 respectively) in order to be bid in the Renewable Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP) / private opportunities which are aimed at bringing additional megawatts onto the country’s electricity system through private sector investment in renewable energy. In order to optimise the layout of the authorised 400 MW Mooi Plaats SEF and Grid infrastructure and ensure that the project remains suitable for development opportunities in the REIPPPP or for private agreements. Mooi Plaats proposes the addition of supporting infrastructure for the Mooi Plaats SEF (14/12/16/3/3/2/1134) and Grid Connection (14/12/6/3/3/1/2132). The proposed 33kV above ground cables, 132 kV aboveground cable and internal access roads, hereafter referred to as “the proposed project”, which forms this application and Basic Assessment (BA) process. The proposed project requires several key components to facilitate the transmission and distribution of electricity at a large scale. This includes: • Two (2) 33 kV above ground cables; • One (1) 132kV overhead powerline; • Three (3) Internal Access Roads. The two (2) proposed 33kV above ground cables (approximately 2.3km and 1.7km in length respectively) are required to connect the authorized Mooi Plaats Solar PV to the authorized 33kV/132kV onsite collector substation. The 33kV above ground cables will be supported by monopole double circuit built to 88/132kV dimensions and will be up to a maximum of 28m in height. The corridor buffer width to be assessed is 100m- 50m on either side of the 33kV alignment. Approximately 6.7km of the proposed 11.3km 132kV aboveground cable is situated within the approved 132kV corridor (14/12/6/3/3/1/2132). This 132kV aboveground cable will deviate approximately 4.6km south-east out of the approved powerline corridor to connect to the approved 132kV/400kV Korusun Main Transmission Substation (MTS) (14/12/16/3/3/2/730/2 as amended and currently under construction). The design of the 132kV pylon towers to be used for this project will be a combination of single and double circuit Monopole pylons and Lattice pylons as required and will range between 24m-40m in height. The corridor buffer width to be assessed for the proposed 4.6km aboveground cable is 300m- 150m on either side of the 132kV alignment. The corridors proposed to be assessed are to allow flexibility when routing the powerlines and roads within the corridor. Three (3) Internal access roads (approximately 1.3km, 1.2km and 0.09km in length respectively) are required to access the Solar PV arrays. Each road will be approx. between 4m and 12m wide. The corridor buffer width to be assessed for the proposed roads is 300m- 150m on either side of the road alignment.