3 DETAILED PROJECT DESCRIPTION 3.1 Introduction

Chapter 3: Detailed project description

Wolseley Wind Farm EIA March 2013 Final Environmental Impact Report

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3 DETAILED PROJECT DESCRIPTION

3.1 Introduction

SAGIT has secured approximately 1,691 hectares (16.92km2) between Wolseley and Worcester in the Witzenberg Municipality, Western Cape Province, and proposes to construct and operate a 30-turbine wind farm and associated infrastructure with the capacity to generate between 50-110 MW of electricity for the national grid. This chapter describes the project in sufficient detail to allow an evaluation of the potential impacts that could result from project construction and operation, and to allow development of appropriate mitigation measures for such impacts. The potential impacts associated with the proposed project have been evaluated within the environmental studies and are discussed in Chapters 8 - 17.

3.2 Project Infrastructure Components

The following constitute the main components of the project: • A total of 30 wind turbines with individual capacity of 2.5 – 3.6 MW. • An existing on-site sub-station at Romansrivier. • Underground transmission lines to carry the electricity from the turbines to a

proposed on-site substation. • A new on-site sub-station. • Internal access roads leading from the R43 via the N1. • An off-site control centre compound potentially located in Wolseley.

3.2.1 Wind Turbines

(a) Turbine Description Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into electricity, using modern wind turbines. Wind power is non-dispatchable, meaning that for economic operation, all of the available output must be taken when it is available. With the good geographical distribution of varying wind regimes throughout South Africa the desired net result is continual electricity generation into the national grid. Wind turbines are mounted on a tower to capture wind energy and the kinetic energy of the wind is used to turn the blades of the turbine to generate electricity. At a height of 30 m or more above ground they take advantage of the faster, less turbulent wind. Usually 3 blades are mounted on a shaft to form a rotor. The nacelle, which is placed at the top of the tower, contains the generator, control equipment, gearbox and anemometer for monitoring the wind speed and direction. The mechanical power generated by the rotation of the blades is transmitted to the generator within the nacelle via a gearbox and drive train. More recently “direct drive” turbines, which do not utilise gearboxes, have gained interest because they involve less mechanical parts and are therefore more reliable, have lighter nacelle’s and are more efficient. Wind turbine consists of the following major components, as shown in Figure 3.1 below:



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• The rotor / blades; which is comprised of three rotor blades. The rotor blades

use the latest advances in aeronautical engineering materials science to maximise efficiency.

• The nacelle (generator/turbine housing). The nacelle houses the gearbox and generator as well as a wind sensor to identify wind direction. The nacelle turns automatically ensuring the blades always face into the wind to maximise the amount of electricity generated

• The tower; which is a hollow structure supporting the nacelle and providing access to the nacelle. The height of the tower is a key factor in determining the amount of electricity a turbine can generate. The tower houses the transformer which converts the electricity to the correct voltage for transmission into the grid

• The foundation unit upon which the turbine is anchored to the ground Turbines are able to operate at varying wind speeds, dependant on site specific characteristics. The amount of energy a turbine can harness depends on both the wind velocity and the length of the rotor blades. It has been confirmed that the turbines utilised for Wolseley Wind Farm will have a hub height of 90 - 110 m and a turbine blade length of 40 to 60 m, with a generating capacity of 2.5 MW and 3.6 MW each. Wind turbines typically start generating electricity at wind speeds of between 10 km/h to 15 km/h (2,5 m/s - 4 m/s). This is called the cut-in speed, the minimum wind speed at which the wind turbine will generate usable power. Nominal wind speeds required for full power operation vary between 45 km/h and 60 km/h (11 m/s to 15 m/s). At very high speeds, typically over 100 km/h, the wind turbine will cease power generation and stop. The wind speed at which shut down occurs is called the cut-out speed. This is a safety feature which protects the turbine from damage. Normal wind turbine operation usually resumes when the wind drops back to a safe level. A turbine is designed to operate continuously and with low maintenance for more than 20 years. Once operating, the wind farm will be monitored and controlled remotely, with a mobile team for maintenance when required. SAGIT has as yet not confirmed the exact turbine model to be used. These turbines vary in MW capacity and blade length. For the purposes of this EIA the most likely worst case scenario i.e. largest possible dimensions as stipulated by the appropriate regulatory bodies, have been considered.

(b) Turbine Foundations Each turbine will require a reinforced, concrete foundation to be constructed on site, at the desired turbine location. These are typically round structures the bulk of which site below ground level with only a relatively small pedestal of approximately 5,5 m diameter protruding above ground level. The exact size of the foundations will depend on the size and make of turbine but is estimated to be 15 to 20 m in diameter. Foundations, where possible, will have a sloped surface (see Figure 3.2 (b)) rather than a flat one, so as to minimise the loss of agricultural land and assist water drainage around the base of the turbine. Construction would involve excavating to a depth of at least 3 m, then using steel and concrete to construct the foundations. Topsoil will be removed and stockpiled prior to construction and reintroduced post construction to ensure that the previous land use e.g. agriculture, can continue post construction with minimal interference. A preliminary geotechnical investigation was undertaken in November 2012. The preliminary report is enclosed as Appendix H. It was recommended that foundation options and pile design be investigated during



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detailed geotechnical investigations prior to construction. Piled foundations are anticipated for a number of turbines and piling requirements for the remainder of the turbines will be determined by the suitability of the weathered rock for founding.

Figure 3.1: Components of a Typical Wind Turbine (A) and sections of standard geared turbine (B), and a direct drive system.

Figure 3.2: The proposed foundations will be sloped (as shown in B) rather than flat (A) so as to reduce the loss of agricultural land and facilitate drainage.

(B)

(C) (A)

(B) (A)



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(c) Turbine layout Wind modelling and micrositing expertise have been utilised to determine the exact layout of the wind turbines, according to the optimum wind speeds, directions identified and constraints such as wind-shadows behind turbines. The layout was then further dictated by the specialist studies undertaken during the EIA process, which identified exclusion or buffer zones necessary to limit impacts on sensitive receptors such as residential homesteads, ecology (fauna and flora), avifauna and bat habitats, heritage resources, agricultural land, wetlands and visual aspects. The final position has therefore been informed by both the wind regime and the environmental constraints. The evolution of the micrositing is presented in more detail in Chapter 4: Alternatives. Table 3-1: No go areas and setback buffers that have been applied during the micrositing process. Where more than one buffer has been recommended from a specific feature e.g. a road, the largest one was applied.

Constraint Description Extent Source

Hard No-go areas and buffers (No turbines placed within these areas)

Roads, railway lines, commercial or residential structures

Setback (1.5 x tip height) from these features 240 m

Land Use Planning Ordinance, 1985, as amended

Boundary of the land unit Setback (1.5 x tip height) applied to the outer boundary of the development site

240 m Land Use Planning Ordinance, 1985, as amended

Road intersections Setback from intersections of trunk, main and divisional roads

500 m from intersection

Western Cape DOT. Letter 2012.05.30

Eskom lines (> 220kV) Setback from existing powerline to be 4x blade diameter 424 m

Email (2012.10.23) from John Geeringh, Snr Env Advisor, Eskom

Roads A 500m buffer from the R43 500m from arterial roads

Recommended by Visual Specialist

Telkom radio link Fresnel tube (300 m buffer) provided to accommodate microwave links

300 m Telkom

Noise receptors Buffer around all inhabited residential structures 400 m Recommended by

Noise Specialist

Wetlands Wetlands of high and moderate conservation importance

High (50 m buffer). Moderate (30 m buffer)

Recommended by Wetland Specialist

Vegetation Renosterveld considered a no-go area No buffer applied Recommended by

Ecologist Specialist

Bat sensitive areas Setback from high sensitive bat habitats. 100 m Recommended by Bat

Specialists

Bat sensitive areas Setback from moderate sensitive bat habitats. Moderate (50 m), Recommended by Bat

Specialist Soft buffers (Turbines avoided in these areas as far as possible)

Agricultural land Arable fields avoided as far as possible through use of field margins for access roads.

N/A Recommended by Agricultural Specialist



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Figure 3.3 below depicts the influence of the buffer zones around major infrastructure such as roads, residence, Telkom lines, Eskom powerlines, Eskom Substation and the railway line on the layout plan.

Figure 3.3: Infrastructure buffers



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(d) Control Room An off-site control room will be constructed and will be the central control centre from where the WEF will be controlled and monitored remotely. The control room will likely be housed in Wolseley.

(e) Collection Cables Each turbine needs to distribute the electricity which it generates to the grid. The following transfer steps are required: • From the nacelle and tower of the wind turbine, where the electricity is created, to

the step up transformer, usually at the base of the tower. Low voltage cables are utilised.

• From the transformer via underground cables to a sub-station. These “collection cables” are typically medium voltage. In the case of the Wolseley WEF, a new on-site sub-station in close proximity with the existing Eskom Romans Rivier Substation is being proposed. Collection cables will be underground at a minimum depth of 1 m. In active agricultural fields these will be placed at a minimum depth of 1.2 m (unless bedrock is encountered prior to reaching this depth) so as to allow normal agricultural activities above. Cable trenches will follow mostly existing and proposed access roads. Trenches will be approximately 1 m wide and 1 m deep.

• To the grid. The new substation can ideally be contiguous with the existing Romans Rivier Substation, depending on Eskom’s future expansion plans for the Romans Rivier Substation. In this case the connection will be a direct connection. If Eskom’s future plans preclude a direct connection then the new Substation will be at the closest possible proximity and the connection will be by means of underground cabling.



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Figure 3.4: Proposed turbine and access road layout for the Wolseley WEF



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3.2.2 On-site Sub-station An electrical substation will be constructed on site. All medium voltage collection cables from the individual turbines will feed into this station, where it will be stepped up. High voltage (66kv) electricity will be distributed from this sub-station to the Eskom sub-station at Romansrivier. The sub-station will be located on the Remaining Extent of the farm Romansrivier 320 north-east on the proposed site. The sub-station will cover an area of approximately 80 x 80m (1,600m2). The tallest structures associated with the substation would be the lightning rods (approximately 14m - 20m).

3.2.3 Underground Powerlines The proposed turbines will be connected via underground powerlines to an existing substation on-site. As a result, no additional overhead powerlines will be constructed.

3.3 Project Phases

This section presents the various phases of the project, past and future, and describes key activities that would be associated with them.

3.3.1 Planning Phase Planning of the Wolseley WEF commenced in 2009. SAGIT erected a 60 m tall wind test mast in June 2010 on the site (on the farm De Vlei (Parcel number: RE 355)) for the purposes of collecting wind data for the site so as to establish the wind regime for the area. With this data SAGIT planned their micrositing for the area through an iterative process informed by the EIA. The EIA started in April 2012 and the findings of various specialist investigations lead to numerous micrositing iterations which resulted in the final proposed layout. This process of defining the layout and consideration of alternatives in described further in Chapter 4: Alternatives. SAGIT intends to complete this EIA process in the first quarter of 2013, and if authorisation from DEA&DP is obtained, to apply to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) for Independent Power Producer (IPP) status. If awarded, SAGIT intends to commence construction in 2014.

3.3.2 Construction Phase This section describes the construction phase, anticipated to run for approximately 18 to 24 months. It describes the temporary activities which constitute much of the construction. Temporary works will include access roads, construction compound, laydown areas, and various transportation activities. Construction of the various turbine components will proceed concurrently, after the access roads have been laid out and built. Construction will take place predominantly in daylight hours.

(a) Access Roads Access roads to the site will be via existing gravel farm roads from the R43 between Worcester and Wolseley. Prior to the installation of the turbines, these existing farm



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roads will be upgraded where required to accommodate the haul vehicles required to deliver the turbine components. The following describes the proposed access roads and presents development principles proposed by SAGIT: • Where possible, existing roads will be used. • Where new roads are required, the footprint will be kept to an absolute minimum. • Vehicle access roads will be required to provide access to the base of each

turbine for heavy delivery vehicles. A total of 8-13 km of new, gravel, access roads will be required. These roads will have a total temporary construction width of around 7.5 m. These roads will be rehabilitated post-construction and only the minimum required road will remain during the operational phase to provide access to each turbine.

• A temporary access track for the crawler crane will be required. These tracks will follow the access roads, straddling the access road and will be 7-10 m in diameter to accommodate the large crane. The tracks will only be utilised for the short assembly period when the crane moves to the turbine location, and will be rehabilitated post construction.

• All roads will be constructed with specifications defined in the EMP, and will include topsoil conservation, appropriate cut and fill methods, stormwater controls, and rehabilitation to pre-construction state.

• The final road surfaces will be level with the adjacent agricultural fields specifically to accommodate agricultural operations in the area. Where drainage precludes this, the road will not be elevated more than 150 mm above the surrounding fields, and a smooth transition will be created between road and fields, using topsoil, to facilitate crossing by farm equipment.

• Both the access road and the on-site roads will be laid out and marked at the outset of the construction, and passenger vehicles, trucks, and construction equipment will keep to these roads and not create new tracks. Should wet conditions cause the temporary roadways to deteriorate, gravel will be used to improve the temporary route pending completion of the permanent road, rather than having vehicles create a new track across undisturbed land.

(b) Construction Compound

An on-site construction compound (approximately 150 x 150m = 22,500m2) will be established on the site for the duration of the construction phase. The compound would include an office, workshop, ablutions, kitchen, fuel storage area, parking area, and a temporary store area for materials and equipment. These areas should be fenced off. It will potentially also hold a small batching plan. Certain turbine components may also be stored here temporarily. The compound area location will either be as close as possible to the existing on-site substation or on the footprint of the proposed newly built on-site sub-station to ensure a minimal impact. Topsoil conservation will have to be practiced in the establishment of this area and the site rehabilitated afterwards. Aboveground tanks to store diesel fuel, hydraulic oil, lubricating oil will be placed in the compound. An impervious concrete surface and walling will be constructed around the tanks, sized so as to be able to hold all of the contents of the tanks in case of spills. The fuel tanks and spill containment area will be constructed early in the overall construction process so they can support the remainder of the construction effort as well as future operations. Any refueling that is necessary must take place over the impervious area.



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A comprehensive Construction Phase Management Plan will be prepared to direct and control the construction process. Such management plan will address all aspects of the construction compounds in terms of the applicable legal and policy requirements and standards.

(c) Turbine Foundations, Laydown and Working Areas (Figure 3.5) A geotechnical investigation will be undertaken to confirm the suitability of each turbine position. Where conditions are found not to be suitable, turbine positions may have to be shifted slightly. Foundations will be mechanically excavated, and a reinforced foundation will be poured using concrete sourced likely from a small batching plant at the construction compound. Each foundation will take in excess of one week to cure. Each turbine site will be associated with a temporary laydown area, with hardstanding, an area where the turbine will be assembled before being lifted into position. This will include areas for the turbine components, the construction equipment and the main lifting crane. This area will need to be cleared, levelled and compacted. The exact dimensions of these laydown areas will be dependent on the final model of turbine selected, but a generic layout is provided in the figure below. The total area required per turbine will be approximately 1640m2. Each turbine laydown area will be optimally designed to ensure minimum impacts, especially on agricultural land. The laydown areas will be temporarily required during construction and are to be rehabilitated after construction.

Figure 3.5: Laydown and Working Area proposed for each turbine site.



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Due to maximum wind speed limitations during turbine erection, the relatively lower early morning (01:00 to 9:00) wind speeds will likely be utilized for this.

(d) Transportation The wind turbines will be transported in sections to the installation site. In addition, other materials needed for the foundations and grid-connection will be transported separately. A summary of all construction phase transportation details is provided in the table below. Table 3.2: Construction Phase Transportation Requirements

Product Quantity Vehicles needed Weight & Dimensions

Turbine Tower Section 3 per turbine on 3 Loads (Special Vehicles up to 80t)

54 tonnes to 68.4 tonnes Length: 27 m to 33 m Diameter: 5.5 m to 6.5 m

Blades (from 40m to 60m)

3 blades per turbine on 3 Loads (Special Trucks, 20t)

6.5 tonnes to 10.5 tonnes Length: 40 m to 58.5 m Radius: 3.2m

Nacelle (Generator) 1 to 3 loads per turbine depending on model

35 to 88 tonnes 5.8m x 4.7m x 3.0m

Electrical Cable & Transformers 1 x 20 ton truck Cable: 4 tonnes

Transformer: 6 tonnes

Concrete 15 to 25 Loads per foundation 305 to 500 m3: Batching on-site, with Bulk deliveries of aggregate & cement in 20 ton trucks

Re-Enforcing Steel 20 ton on 1 load Standard 20 ton truck In total, each turbine will require approximately 16 loads or trips, comprising of the specification and load characteristics in the column above. The abnormal loads and internal (on-site loads) are indicated in the table below:

Table 3-2 Abnormal and internal (on-site) loads Abnormal Loads *On-site/Internal Loads Loads/Turbine Total Loads/Turbine Total

Turbine Tower Section 3 90

Blades (from 40m to 60m 3 90

Nacelle

(Generator) 1 30

Electrical Cable & Transformers

0.033 1

Concrete 15 450 TOTAL Loads 210 TOTAL Loads 451

Months 18 Months 18 Loads/Month 11.67 Loads/Month 25.06 Loads/Week 2.92 Loads/Week 6.26



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The applicant proposes to crush existing surface rocks and stones, removed from agricultural fields during preparations for planting of crops, for use as aggregate on site. Using of existing on-site material is expected to reduce the number of on-site trips by half. In summary, accessibility to the site for all the Turbine sections, equipment and raw materials is good. It is envisaged that 2 load convoys per week spread over 10 months will be required to get all of the equipment to site within the construction period. It is envisaged that turbines will be transported from Cape Town or Saldanha harbours in 20 to 80 ton trucks on roads connecting to the N1 Highway and then along the R43 Regional Road to the construction site. Construction and foundation materials will be transported from nearby quarries and suppliers in Worcester and Wolseley respectively, in 20 to 50 ton trucks. A number of truck configurations exist, as shown in the figure below, for the transportation of turbine components.

(e) Turbine Assembly Typically, a self-propelled “crawler” crane is transported to a site by truck and assembled at the first turbine location. This primary crane, and a secondary crane will be used to erect the towers and turbines. These cranes will need to travel from one turbine location to the next by way of prepared roads and crawler track with wider areas around bends and junctions. The tower is placed on the foundation, then the nacelle and rotors are lifted and placed as shown in the figures below. Following installation of the turbines, any disturbed areas outside the roadway and small parking area will be reclaimed and re-vegetated.



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Figure 3.6: Example of blade and tower transport systems.

Figure 3-7: Turbines in various stages of assembly and erection

(f) Services

(i) Water Water will be required for potable use, in the construction of the foundations for the towers and for road construction/upgrade. Water will be piped in from a municipal source through a temporary water pipeline, or where not available, will be sourced from the local borehole supply. This is a water rich area where abundant underground water is available. (ii) Sewage A negligible sewage flow is anticipated for the duration of the construction period. On-site treatment will be undertaken through the use of chemical toilets. The toilets will be serviced periodically, as specified in the Environmental Management Plan (EMP), by the supplier. (iii) Electricity Electricity for construction will be sourced from both the existing 11 kV farm lines and diesel generators. (iv) Stormwater



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Stormwater management will be required on the site. Stormwater will be managed in accordance with the EMP that will be compiled for the construction phase. A stormwater management plan will be drafted in consultation with the relevant specialists. (v) Solid Waste All solid waste will be collected and stored at a central location at the construction camp and will be stored temporarily until removal to an appropriately permitted landfill site in the vicinity of the construction site.

(g) Employment It is expected that the construction of the proposed wind farm will create a number of direct construction employment opportunities over the construction period. These workers will comprise a mixture of specialist, skilled, semi-skilled and un-skilled labour. The construction employees will be accommodated / be sourced from nearby towns (Worcester and Wolseley etc) and be transported to and from the site on a daily basis. Overnight on-site worker presence will be limited to security staff. The table below provides a breakdown of expected employment. Table 3.3: Typical breakdown of workers / skills Levels required during construction

3.4 Operational Phase

The wind farm is proposed to begin generating electricity by 2016 following installation and testing of the turbines and is anticipated to produce electricity for 20 years. Operational efficiency will be monitored 24 hours per day from an off-site location. In general, there will be virtually no daily traffic to and from the site. Other than security personnel that will have a low key 24/7 presence on site, it is anticipated that technicians will visit each turbine on at least a quarterly basis for routine scheduled inspection and maintenance. In addition, turbines will require other periodic maintenance as prescribed and performed by the equipment manufacturer, including changes of lubricating oils. All construction roads will be rehabilitated at the end of the construction period. Only one single lane farm track to each turbine will remain, so as to provide access for a light vehicle as needed for the maintenance team. Routine road maintenance will include blading and smoothing as necessary to maintain the road surface, as well as inspecting and repairing stormwater controls as necessary to ensure their proper functioning to control erosion.

Construction component

Highly skilled

Medium skilled

Low skilled Total

Civils and buildings 10 50 40 100 12 - 18 MonthsInstallation of machinery and equip 10 30 10 50 12 - 18 MonthsTotal 20 80 50 150

Duration of employment

Number of workers



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In general, land disturbance will be confined to areas on and around where various site components were constructed, with no additional disturbance of otherwise undisturbed lands. A comprehensive Operational Phase Management Plan will be prepared to direct and control the operation of the plant. Such management plan will address all management aspects in terms of the applicable legal and policy requirements and standards and in accordance with international best practice.

3.5 Decommissioning Phase

The operational lifespan of the wind farm will be limited to a 20 year period according to the conditions set by the Department of Energy for the operation of wind energy facilities. Should the period be extended beyond the 20 years, Sagit would consider extending the lifetime of the project accordingly. When the site is ready to be decommissioned, the turbines will be dismantled. Steel and other useful materials will be recycled. Inert materials that cannot be re-used or recycled will be taken to a suitable landfill. Any contaminated material such as oil storage tanks must be taken to a suitable disposal site. On-site roads that will no longer be used will be reclaimed and rehabilitated. Foundations and other below ground inert structures will be buried and covered with soil. Land no longer being used will be rehabilitated to an appropriate land use, either revegetated or used for agriculture. All these reclaimed areas will be monitored and maintained until no further attention is required to ensure long-term survival of vegetation.

3.6 Summary of Proposal Specifications

To facilitate quick reference, the details of the proposed WEF and associated infrastructure are summarised in the table below. The various components of the WEF have been described in greater detail earlier in the chapter. Table 3.4: Specifications of the proposed WEF.

Parameter Extent Comment Wind Energy Facility Number of turbines 30 -

Turbine type To be confirmed. Generic specifications have been used for the purposed of this EIA.

SAGIT has not yet committed to a specific make of turbine. This will be done only after REBID tender submitted and if Preferred bidder status is secured, but before the BID is submitted to the DoE.

Turbine dimensions Nacelle height: 90 – 110 m Blade length: 40 – 60 m Tower Diameter at base: ~5 m

A worst case (largest dimension) has been applied during all assessments.



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Parameter Extent Comment

Turbine foundations Diameter: 20m x 20m (approximate) Depth: ~ 3 m Reinforced concrete slab

Power output 2.3 – 3.6 MW per turbine 112 – 162 MW (total WEF output) -

On-site Sub-station dimensions 40 m x 40 m - Area of farms supporting the WEF 1,961 ha -

WEF dimensions: Eastern-most turbine to western-most turbine 2.5 km -

WEF dimensions: Northern-most turbine to Southern-most turbine

4.5 km -

Access roads: width Construction area width = 7.5 m

Collection cables: Operating Voltage: 33kV Trench width: 1 m Trench depth: 1 m (1.2m in agricultural fields)

Construction period 18 - 24 months

3.7 The Need and Desirability for the Proposed Project

3.7.1 Introduction

The NEMA regulations and associated guidelines provide the framework within which need and desirability pertaining to a project that requires an Environmental Authorisation should be evaluated, assessed, constructed and managed. The Environmental Impact Assessment Guideline on Need and Desirability provides information and guidance for applicants, authorities and interested and affected parties on the requirements for the consideration of need and desirability. In terms of the guideline the need and desirability of a proposed development must be measured against the contents of a credible Integrated Development Plan (IDP), Spatial Development Framework (SDF) and Environmental Management Framework (EMF) for the relevant area, with specific reference to the sustainable development vision, goals and objectives, and the desired spatial form and land-use pattern of that area. According to the DEA&DP Guideline on Need and Desirability1 the concept of need and desirability relates to the type of development being proposed in terms of the time and place of the activity. It refers to the “wise use” of land and comes down to a question of the right time and the right place for locating the type of land-use or activity proposed. The “need” equates to the timing and the “desirability” to the “placing” and is addressed by answering the following questions:

3.7.2 Need

(a) Defining Need

1 EIA Guideline and Information Document Series (October 2011)



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Need (“timing”) can be defined through the following questions:

• Is the land use considered within the timeframe intended by the existing approved Spatial Development Framework (SDF) agreed to by the relevant environmental authority? (i.e. is the proposed development in line with the projects and programmes identified as priorities within the credible IDP)

• Should the development, or if applicable, expansion of the town/area concerned in terms of this land use (associated with the activity being applied for) occur here at this point in time?

• Does the community/area need the activity and the associated land use concerned (is it a societal priority?) This refers to the strategic as well as local level (e.g. development is a national priority, but within a specific local context it could be inappropriate)

• Are the necessary services with adequate capacity currently available (at the time of the application), or must additional capacity be created to cater for the development?

• Is this development provided for in the infrastructure planning of the municipality, and if not what will the implication be on the infrastructure planning of the municipality (priority and placement of services and opportunity costs)?

• Is this project part of a national programme to address and issue of national concern or importance?

(b) Evaluation of Need

(i) “Fit” with IDP and societal priorities The Witzenberg Municipality IDP reflects the societal priorities by setting out 6 Key Performance Areas (KPAs) identified to guide and assess Council’s actions over the period of which KPA 1 (Developing integrated sustainable human settlements), KPA 4 (local economic development (LED)) and 5 (Social development) are of specific relevance. KPA 1 makes provision for pursuing inclusive, socially uplifting growth without compromising the environment or resource base. Key objectives identified under KPA4 includes the promotion of entrepreneurship and SMME’s and historically disadvantaged communities as well as the promotion of the Witzenberg as a lifestyle relocation and tourism area. KPA 5 includes the empowerment of vulnerable groups (youth, women), and the fostering of sustainable livelihoods. The creation of a community trust as direct consequence of the WEF project, if rolled out and managed in a sustainable way, should benefit the local communities in the Wolseley area. A continuous flow of revenue through the mechanisms of the trust will probably stimulate local economic development and encourage the development of sustainable human settlements and social development in the area. The WEF project would serve as the enabler and primary economic driver of a Sustainable Development Initiative (SDI). The SDI would serve as a strategy to optimise the potential economic multipliers and beneficial synergies vested in the project. The SDI will be managed by a representative stakeholder trust that would ensure that meaningful benefit is created for the affected local communities and for the environment (possibly in the form of ‘mitigation banking’ not necessarily for in situ projects).



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(ii) “Fit” with national priority, programmes and concerns

The development of renewable, non-fossil based energy is supported at national, provincial and on local government level for reasons relating to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, diversifying the country’s energy mix, and increasing provincial/ regional energy security. Ambitious targets are set at a national level to meet these goals, which are filtered through and echoed on provincial and local government level. The national White Paper on Renewable Energy (2003) identifies a national target of 10 000 GWh (0.8 Mtoe) renewable energy contribution to final energy consumption by 2013 (~4% of total). Targets set in provincial documents include 15% of the electricity consumed in the Western Cape from renewables by 2014, and provincial carbon (equivalent) reduced by 10% over 2000 baseline values by 2014 (2008 White Paper on Sustainable Energy Use). The PSDF proposes an even more significant 25% of energy consumed to be from renewables by 2020 – a target also endorsed in the 2012 Draft Witzenberg SDF. The potential contribution of specifically wind and solar in the Western Cape is recognized in a number of national and provincial policy documents, including the 2010 WC Draft Plan. The 2012 Witzenberg Draft SDF indicates strong commitment and support by Council for the promotion of renewable energy generation, including commercial WEFs in its area. This support is qualified by siting and other factors which should be considered when siting individual WEFs.

(iii) Capacity of available services and Infrastructural demands

It is not foreseen that the WEF will require additional infrastructure, such as roads and powerlines, to be constructed as the current available infrastructure should be sufficient for the increase in its use. Where needed the existing roads will be upgraded to accommodate the increase in construction traffic and heavier loads to be conveyed to the site.

3.7.3 Desirability

(a) Defining Desirability

Desirability (“placing”) is determined through considering the following:

• Is the development the best practicable environmental option for this land/site? • Would approval of this application compromise the integrity of the existing approved

and credible municipal IDP and SDF as agreed to by the relevant authorities. • Would the approval of this application compromise the integrity of the existing

environmental management priorities for the area (e.g. as defined in EMFs), and if so, can it be justified in terms of sustainability considerations?

• Do location factors favour this land use (associated with the activity applied for) at this place? (this relates to the contextualisation of the proposed land use on this site within its broader context).

• How will the activity or the land use associated with the activity applied for, impact on sensitive natural and cultural areas (built and rural/natural environment)?

• Will the proposed activity or the land use associated with the activity applied for, result in unacceptable opportunity costs?



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• Will the proposed land use result in unacceptable cumulative impacts? (b) Evaluation of Desirability

(i) Best practicable environmental option

The IDP notes that municipal area is overwhelmingly rural in nature (> 96%), with agriculture is the economic backbone of the Witzenberg – either as primary sector activity (~35% of GDPR)) or as downstream secondary activity (agro-processing forming the bulk of the manufacturing sector’s ~21% contribution to GDPR. Fruciticulture, viticulture, and animal feed production are identified as key activities, supplemented by livestock.

Unemployment/ under-employment linked poverty levels are however high, with an estimated ~38% of municipal households earning R0-R18 000 per year. Of all population groups, Colored women are most adversely affected by unemployment in the municipal area.

Along with agriculture (and agro-processing), tourism is an important growth sector in the Witzenberg economy. Wolseley (including Montana and Pine Ridge) are identified as in need of increasing infrastructure-supported economic diversification away from reliance on agriculture. Township regeneration and social upliftment support are identified as key needs (Witzenberg 2012a: 30). The development opportunity identified for the Wolseley/ Romansrivier area is associated with the Cape Town – Johannesburg railway line/ corridor. Priority issues identified in the Ward 7 Plan almost exclusively relate to the urban communities in the Ward 7 area, including the towns of Tulbagh and Wolseley (i.e. service delivery/ infrastructure); Ward 2 priorities are identical to those of Ward 2 (and are also listed under one heading in the IDP). The IDP indicates Council’s commitment to and support of energy demand management measures, and combating climate change. Commercial REFs are however not specifically addressed in the IDP.

The current main land use in the area is agriculture. An assessment done on the agricultural conditions of the area however found the agricultural potential of site to be limited. Current agricultural practices is not the best practicable environmental option for the site and other land use forms should be considered for optimal use.

(ii) “Fit” with the municipal IDP and SDF

The SDF notes that the Witzenberg is predominantly rural and dependent on agriculture, not to just feed its people, but as the backbone of economic activity, employment provision and associated settlement pattern viability. Wolseley is identified as a town with a high human development need, and medium development potential - i.e. while consistent and moderate growth prevails and certain sectors of the economy show signs of growth, or has the potential for it; growth potential is on par with the provincial mean. The SDF notes that the Wolseley area has, amongst others, a high need of human capital development, which would include skilling and training. Section C of the Draft SDF contains the spatial vision, directives, policies and strategies for the Witzenberg. The following are of relevance to the WEF proposal:

• Directive C.6.3.(r)) provides that “all future buildings, roads and infrastructure including power lines, solar and wind farms must be sited and designed according to the relevant SPCs and guidelines and are subject to heritage, environmental and



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visual impact analyses; … (ii) Solar and wind farms should be located where they will cause least visual impact taking into consideration the viability of the project”. These provisions largely reflect the general siting principles contained in the PSDF.

• Section C7 outlines the objectives in regulating the development of industrial areas (SPC F2, which includes commercial power generation infrastructure) in the Witzenberg. The SDF notes that industrial activities would create a number of other possibilities in side-stream and indirect activities (e.g. service network, vendors and key contracting firms directly affiliated with a particular plant’s operations). Key objectives include the development of industrial areas and infrastructure required for the harvesting, processing and beneficiation of local resources, including (ii) “energy generation, including solar and wind energy”. Directives in C.7.3. include b) “renewable energy sources (wind, solar thermal, biomass, and domestic hydro-electricity generation) are to be explored and implemented” in the WLM.

• Section C8 outlines the Witzenberg’s policy with regard to surface infrastructure development, including SPC F3.i “Renewable energy structures”2. With regard to Witzenberg energy policy objectives (C.8.3.2.), these include a) promoting the development of renewable energy supply schemes in order to diversify domestic energy supplies, and avoiding energy imports while minimizing the environmental impacts; c). prioritizing renewable energy development in order to increase provincial energy security; and e) developing and instituting energy supply schemes in order to contribute to the targets set in the White Paper on Renewable Energy (2003). Policy Directives (C.8.3.3.) include:

a) The construction of electrical [including WEF] infrastructure must be strictly regulated in terms of the spatial plans and guidelines put forward in, amongst other, Toolkit D4 (Guidelines for scenic routes – see below). They must be carefully placed to avoid visual impacts on landscapes of significant symbolic, aesthetic, cultural or historic value and should blend in with the surrounding environment as far as possible; c) [The Witzenberg should contribute towards] renewable energy sources such as wind, solar thermal and biomass are to constitute 25% of the province’s energy generation capacity by 2020; f) The implementation of sustainable renewable energy is to be promoted through appropriate financial and fiscal instruments. g) An effective legislative system to promote the implementation of renewable energy is to be developed, implemented, and continuously improved; i) The development of renewable energy systems is to be used for economic development throughout the municipality, including the rural areas (Witzenberg, 2012: 232).

The Witzenberg Draft SDF indicates a commitment towards helping government meet its greenhouse emission reduction targets, including strong support for the development of commercial renewable energy facilities such as WEFs in its area. The SDF further indicates that the study area is located in a designated agricultural area, and that the area and Wolseley town are located within the Breede Valley Development Corridor (the major provincial development corridor identified in the PSDF), as well as within the West Coast Link Corridor (roads and rail), linking the

2 “Any wind turbine or solar voltaic apparatus, or grouping thereof, which captures and converts wind or solar radiation into energy for commercial gain irrespective of whether it feeds onto an electricity grid or not. It includes any appurtenant structure or any test facility which may lead to the generation of energy on a commercial basis” (Witzenberg, 2012: C8.1).



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major Saldanha industrial area to the N1. Conceptually the WEF proposal is therefore not incompatible with the increased settlement, investment and development, including in bulk services infrastructure envisaged for the broad area in the PSDF and Draft SDF. With regard to actual WEF siting principles, the Draft SDF is largely aligned with the provisions of the PSDF and the Guideline for the Development on Mountains, Hills and Ridges (2003). While the maps included in the Draft SDF are fairly coarse grained, they seem to indicate that the proposed WEF site and immediate exposed surrounds are not located within the Wolseley cultural landscape. Further, while the R43 is identified as a potential scenic drive, comment from the Witzenberg planner indicates that the relevant stretch of the R43 largely traverses a visually degraded area, and is not considered of scenic importance. The planner also indicated that the majority of the site would be screened from the scenic sections of the R43 and other sensitive receptors such as the Nuwekloof, Mitchell’s and Bain’s Kloof passes. The findings of the review therefore indicate that the proposed Wolseley WEF is largely compatible with the Draft SDF and Witzenberg’s development vision for the area.

(iii) “Fit” with sensitive natural and cultural areas

Map 22 of the SDF provides an overview of the conservation areas in the Witzenberg. It indicates that the Wolseley and Tulbagh valleys do not contain any conservation areas, with conservation areas in relation to the WEF site essentially located to the west of the R43 along the lower slopes of the Waterval/ Limietberge (private conservancy), and local, Forestry Act and mountain catchment conservation areas located to the east (Waaihoekberge). Map 23 in the SDF indicates that no critical biodiversity areas are located on or directly adjacent to the site. Section B.5.3 of the SDF deals with the important aspects of cultural landscapes and scenic routes in the Witzenberg. The Draft SDF notes that there are a number of cultural landscapes within the Witzenberg, which in terms of historic significance and high scenic qualities, could be considered for nomination as Grade 1 heritage sites e.g. the Tulbagh and Upper Breede River valley to the north of Wolseley town and the WEF site. The SDF provides a summary of the key cultural landscapes in the Witzenberg. Of the five identified, the following two are of relevance to the proposed WEF, namely the Tulbagh and Upper Breede Valley (significance mainly associated with the rural agricultural landscape associated with historical ‘Land van Waveren’, the historic rail network and associated Anglo-Boer War blockhouses), and the Wolseley Valley. With regard to the Wolseley Valley, Map B25 of the SDF indicates that the WEF site and surrounding area are partially located within the designated Wolsey Valley cultural landscape; the resolution is however at 1: 600 000, i.e. very coarse. Table B7 in the SDF indicates that the cultural significance of the area is mainly associated with the historical homesteads on the slopes of the Witzenberg Mountain (i.e. north of Wolseley, towards Tulbagh/ Ceres). Unlike Tulbagh, Wolseley town has limited heritage value. The Wolseley area is however placed at the junction of two scenic routes (R43, R46), and derives its sense of place from the two scenic valleys (Wolseley, Tulbagh). Scenic values are also associated with the riverine setting (along the Breede) in portions of the Wolseley area. Plan C.4. (Spatial Plan for Tourism), although fairly coarse grained (1: 600 000) seems to indicate that the WEF site itself and adjacent Romansrivier and Bergsig areas do not form part of the Wolseley Valley cultural landscape (which is namely located to the north, west and south-east of the WEF site).



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The Draft SDF notes that although to date no scenic routes have been officially declared in the Western Cape, based on their outstanding environmental characteristics, a number of potential scenic routes may be identified in the Witzenberg. Table B9 of the SDF indicates that the R43 (Ceres to Worcester) and R46 (Tulbagh to N1 via Ceres) both traverse areas with a concentration of historic farmsteads against scenic mountainous backdrops, at least in parts of their delineation. Plan C.4 indicates the R43 as a “tourism corridor”. Directives with regard to developments along scenic routes largely deals with buildings (as opposed to e.g. wind turbines); generally applicable provisions include with regard to the control of upward views – “upward views, for example mountains, are considered significant” (D4.2.3.6.); and D4.2.3.9, which provides that “a) ridges and elevated positions should be avoided”. D4.2.4. further proposes the development of a comprehensive management plan for the Witzenberg scenic routes in order to identify the intrinsic qualities of the scenic route and guide the management of resources to protect and enhance those qualities. Pending such a management plan, the Witzenberg planner was approached for comment with regard to the R43 in relation to the Wolseley WEF study area context. In this regard, he indicated that the relevant portion of the R43 around Romansrivier is not considered scenic, mainly due to the existing concentration of conspicuous agro-industrial land uses (poultry farms, working cellars, wind netting, denuded barren landscape etc), transport infrastructure (R43, railway line), Eskom lines and the presence of the Dwarsrivier correctional facility. It was further noted that the scenic portions of the R43, the R46, the three scenic passes near the WEF site, as well as the scenic Slanghoek valley in the Breede Valley LM are largely screened from the site by intervening topography (Taljaard – pers. comm).

(iv) Acceptable cumulative impacts

Unlike the Overberg and West Coast areas, there have been relatively few WEF applications in the Cape Winelands District Municipality (CWDM). No other WEFs are currently proposed in the WLM (Taljaard – pers. comm). There are however potentially three WEFs located in the adjacent Drakenstein Municipality (also CWDM). All three WEFs are located near Gouda/ Saron, approximately 20-35 km west of the Wolseley site. None of the sites are visible from the proposed Wolseley site due to the screening provided by the natural topography (viz. the Obiekwa/ Voëlvlei/ Elandskloof Mountains). These three WEFs include the approved 138 MW Gouda WEF, the proposed Zen WEF (up to 60 turbines yielding up to 140 MW) and the 10 x 3 MW turbine Inca Gouda WEF. Preliminary construction has begun on the Gouda 138 MW WEF (du Plessis – pers. comm). The Zen and Gouda WEFs are currently both in the EIA phase.

In terms of cumulative impacts there would be the potential for sequential visibility (e.g. the effects of seeing two or more wind farms along a single journey, e.g. road). This would apply to motorists travelling from Gouda towards Worcester along the R46 and R43. The findings of the VIA indicate that the consideration of cumulative visual impacts relates to the proposed wind energy farm in the context of other similar developments planned for the area. At present there are currently no other known proposed wind energy farms in the immediate area.



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3.7.4 Conclusion

It is concluded that incorporating the above questions set out in the Guideline document have guided an adequate consideration of need and desirability in this EIR, in order to ensure that the “best practicable environmental option” is pursued and that development more equitably serves broader immediate and future societal needs. The Wolseley WEF and the associated socio-economic benefits to the Wolseley community is found to be in alignment with the provisions of the relevant national, provincial and local level policy and planning documents, specifically the Witzenberg IDP and Witzenberg Draft SDF. All the relevant documents (e.g. PSDF, Witzenberg Draft SDF) however emphasize the need to adjudicate specific applications with regard to project-specific EIA studies, findings and recommendations.

3 DETAILED PROJECT DESCRIPTION 3.1 Introduction

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