The Proposed Villiers Solar Power Plant near Villiers, Free State Province

The Applicant, Villiers Solar Power Plant (RF) (Pty) Ltd, is proposing the construction of a photovoltaic (PV) solar energy facility (known as the Villiers Solar Power Plant) located on the Farm Onverwatch 1447, approximately 1.5 km west of the town of Villiers in the Free State Province. The solar PV facility will comprise several arrays of PV panels and associated infrastructure, including and will have a contracted capacity of up to 50 MW. The development area is situated within the Mafube Local Municipality area and larger Fezile Dabi District Municipality.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) assessment footprint is up to 161 hectares in extent. Within this area, a development footprint of up to 130 ha will be sited (excluding linear components).
The proposed Villiers Solar Power Plant will include the following infrastructure:
• PV modules and mounting structures.
• Inverters and transformers;
• Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) locally or centrally located;
• Perimeter, access and internal roads (New and/or upgraded up to 12 m wide);
• Supporting infrastructure such as operations and maintenance building/office, switch gear and relay room, staff lockers and changing room, security control, and offices;
• Temporary and permanent laydown areas;

Electrical Grid Infrastructure (EGI) is also to be included as part of the facility application. Energy generated by the facility will be evacuated into the National Grid via the existing 88 kV Villiers Main Transmission Substation (MTS). Two (02) EGI solutions / alternatives are proposed. The alternatives will have a length of up to 1.8 km long, with a width ranging between 147 m to 1.5 km. EGI within the corridors will include:
• Single / double circuit overhead power line of up to 88kV linking the facility substation / Eskom switching station to the existing Villiers MTS;
• Underground or overhead cabling between project components of up to 88 kV;
• A facility substation up to 88 kV; and
• A switching station up to 88 kV.

The proposed Villiers Solar Power Plant is undergoing a Scoping and Environmental Impact Assessment (S&EIA) process.

Province(s): Free State