New map offers visibility of all renewable-energy project applications

23rd August 2013

  

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Anew map detailing the applications for environmental authorisation to build renewable-energy projects in South Africa has been released, says research organi- sation Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) project leader Paul Lochner.

“This is the first time that a publicly available database of these proposed projects is available in South Africa. It provides a valuable resource for the authorities, developers, nongovernmental organisations and other stakeholders,” says Lochner.

This map is the first significant output from the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) that the CSIR is conducting on behalf of the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) for the efficient and effective roll-out of wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in South Africa.

The map includes all existing applications submitted to the DEA before December 2012 and was produced in collaboration with the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies at Stellenbosch University.

The second release from the SEA is the map of potential areas suitable for wind and solar PV projects. These areas were found to have the highest development potential, based on factors including availability of wind or solar resources, environmental constraints, proximity to – and capacity of – the power grid and socioeconomic need in the areas.

“In identifying the potential areas for wind projects, particular attention was given to occurrence of birds and bats and the location of wind resources,” says CSIR Wind SEA manager Cornelius van der Westhuizen.

The extent of the Wind SEA is defined by the domain of the Wind Atlas for South Africa, which includes parts of the Northern Cape, Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces.

“Solar irradiation is very good in many parts of South Africa and the potential areas identified for solar PV projects were more strongly influenced by the need for socio- economic development,” says CSIR Solar SEA manager Lydia Cape-Ducluzeau.

The extent of the Solar SEA includes the provinces with the highest irradiation potential, namely the Northern Cape, the North-West, the Free State, the Western Cape and parts of the Eastern Cape.

“The next phase of the SEA is to refine the potential areas to identify Renewable Energy Development Zones (REDZs), in which development will be incentivised and requirements for environmental and planning approval will be streamlined,” says Van der Westhuizen.

The Wind and Solar SEA is the first to be undertaken by the DEA as part of facilitating efficient implementation of the Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs) that were introduced in the 2012 National Infrastructure Development Plan. This wind and solar energy SEA forms part of SIP 8, which focuses on the promotion of green energy in support of the South African economy, says DEA head of communications Albi Modise.

“The REDZs will not influence any projects currently approved or being constructed, but rather support the strategic planning and future development of wind and solar PV projects in the medium to long term,” emphasises Lochner.

The SEA is available online at http://egis.environment.gov.za or http://www.csir.co.za/nationalwindsolarsea.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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