Proposed development of the Kiara PV 5 Facility and Associated Infrastructure, North West Province

The Applicant, Voltalia South Africa (Pty) Ltd, is proposing the construction of a photovoltaic (PV) solar energy facility (known as the Kiara PV 5 facility) located on a site approximately 16km north east of the town of Lichtenburg in the North West Province. The solar PV facility will comprise several arrays of PV panels and associated infrastructure and will have a contracted capacity of up to 120MW. The development area is situated within the Ditsobotla Local Municipality within the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality. The site is accessible via an existing gravel road which provides access to the development area.
The development area for the PV facility and associated infrastructure will be located on the Remaining Extent of the Farm Hollaagte No. 8
Six additional PV facilities (Kiara PV 1, Kiara PV 2, Kiara PV 3, Kiara PV 4, Kiara PV 6, Kiara PV 7) are concurrently being considered on the project site (within Portion 2 of the Farm Hollaagte 8 and the Remaining Extent of the Farm Hollaagte No. 8) and are assessed through separate Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) processes.
A facility development area (approximately 187ha) as well as grid connection solution have been considered in the Scoping phase. The infrastructure associated with this PV facility includes:
PV modules and mounting structures
Inverters and transformers
Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
Site and internal access roads (up to 8m wide)
Site offices and maintenance buildings, including workshop areas for maintenance and storage.
Temporary and permanent laydown area
Grid connection solution will include:
Facility Substation
Eskom Switching Station
A 275kV powerline (16.6km in length) (either single or double circuit), to connect the PV facility to the Watershed MTS. The 132kV powerline from the on-site substation to the collector substation is approximately 1.2 km long.