Heritage Cases

The Dominion Solar PV Cluster 1-3, is intended to establish 3 Photovoltaic Solar Energy Facility (PVSEF) Projects, located near Klerksdorp, North-West Province. The projects are located in the Klerksdorp Renewable Energy Development Zone (REDz), and the Central Corridor of the Strategic Transmission Corridor (EGI), therefore, the proposed projects require Basic Assessment Applications and are seen as being a priority project for South Africa’s power generation. The Dominion 3 Solar Park (Pty) Ltd is one of the three proposed PVSEF projects. The naming for these separate Projects is as follows: • Dominion 1 Solar Park • Dominion 2 Solar Park • Dominion 3 Solar Park – The focus of this Basic Assessment Report (BAR) Dominion 3 Solar Park (Pty) Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the “Applicant”) intends to develop a Photovoltaic Solar Energy Facility (PVSEF) and associated infrastructure (also interchangeably referred to as the proposed development of Dominion 3 Solar Park and associated infrastructure – hereinafter referred to as Dominion 3 Solar Park of up to 100MW megawatts (million watts MW) on portion 11, 31 and 32 of Remainder of Farm Wolverand 425, in the City of Matlosana Local Municipality, within the jurisdiction of the Dr. Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality. The Associated infrastructure includes: • Back to Back Substation (Including facility substation, Eskom collector station with feeder bays (15000m2)(140MVA) • Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)- Storage Capacity (500MWh) • Access Roads are 8m wide and 20km in length • O&M building (1500m²) The locations of the associated infrastructure on-site, will be finalised and aligned to specialist findings with the aim of avoiding sensitive/ no-go areas. The site consists of approximately 240 hectares of farmland and is well suited for solar installations as it comprises a very flat area with little agricultural or natural potential, and the site has a very high solar theme sensitivity. The proposed Dominion 3 Solar Park has been assessed by independent specialists as part of this Environmental Authorisation Process to allow for the development of an Opportunities and Constraints Map, in accordance with the statutory requirements, in order to guide the Applicant and Professional Team with the development considerations for the site. This Opportunities and Constraints Map referred to as the overall sensitivity map showing the development area (please refer to Section 10) has been designed to provide a clear and accountable record of areas that are immediately deemed suitable and those areas which are considered potentially no suitable for development. Based on the above, the Applicant has investigated and presented a development footprint within the development area (hereinafter referred to as the Preferred Alternative) which is presented in this Report. Based on the findings of the Basic Assessment Report, including inputs received from the appointed Specialists, the Preferred Alternative has been deemed as acceptable and implementable for this Environmental Authorisation Process.