Heritage Cases

On 05 September 2016, the five proposed photovoltaic (PV) facilities and associated electrical infrastructure were granted Environmental Authorisation (EA) by the National Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA). This process supports an Application for Substantive Amendment to the EA for Edison PV and shared electricity infrastructure (DEA Reference Number: 14/12/16/3/3/2/851) in terms of Section 31 Part 2 Amendment of the National Environmental Management Act: Environmental Authorisation Regulations. The existing and valid EA encompasses the 100 megawatt Edison Solar PV Facility and the shared electricity infrastructure. The Applicant (29 Solar Pty. Ltd) wishes to undertake the following amendments to the EA: 1) Split the EA for “Edison PV and shared electricity infrastructure” into two separate EAs: i) EA 1 – Edison PV: for the listed activities and components associated with the Edison PV facility; and ii) EA 2 – 29 Solar Electricity Infrastructure: for the listed activities and components associated with the shared electricity infrastructure (EA2); 2) Amend the electricity infrastructure voltage specification (which applies to the high voltage (HV) transmission line, connecting the proposed MTS and the existing Eskom HV electricity infrastructure), from 275 kilovolt (kV) to 400 kV, and the specification of the MTS from 132/275 kV to 132/400 kV, to be included in EA2, if granted; and 3) Amend the layout of the electricity infrastructure by moving the locations of the collector substations and Main Transmission Station (MTS), as well as the associated routing of the 132 kV transmission line connecting the collector substations and MTS and short 400 kV transmission line connecting the MTS to the existing Eskom 400 kV transmission line (EA2), if granted. Despite the proposed amendments, the Edison PV facility and 29 Solar Electricity Infrastructure would still be developed within the approved site (development envelope). Furthermore, the above changes do not influence the findings of the EIAr, nor does it constitute a change in the scope of the development, the potential impacts and their mitigation measures, or the listed activities authorised in the original and valid EA. As confirmed by the specialists who undertook the studies for the original, approved EIA, implementation of the proposed amendments to the EA for Edison PV and the 29 Solar Electricity Infrastructure do not influence the findings of the original impact assessment, and will not result in additional or unacceptable environmental impacts. As such, it is the opinion of the Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) that the proposed changes and issue amended EAs for 1) Edison PV, and 2) the 29 Solar Electricity Infrastructure be approved.