The Proposed Larissa Solar Power Plant near Poortje, Gauteng Province

The Applicant, Larissa Solar Power Plant (RF) (Pty) Ltd, is proposing the construction of a photovoltaic (PV) solar energy facility, Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility, and ancillary / associated infrastructure, including electrical grid infrastructure (known as the Larissa Solar Power Plant). The solar PV facility will comprise several arrays of PV panels and associated infrastructure and will have a contracted capacity of up to 240 MW. The town of Poortje is located approximately 2 km east of the proposed development in the Gauteng Province within the Emfuleni and Rand West City within the greater Sedibeng and West Rand District Municipalities, and City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality area of jurisdiction.

The proposed Larissa Solar Power Plant development is located on Portions 62 and 63 of the farm Jachtfontein No. 344-IQ and Portion 4, 7 and Remainder of Portion 2 of the farm Hartebeestfontein No. 366-IQ.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) assessment footprint (the total area assessed) is up to 2855 ha in extent. A development (feasibility) area / site of up to 569 hectares (including supporting infrastructure) has been identified for placement of the PV facility as well as the associated infrastructure as part of the Scoping and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. Within this development area, a 569 hectare development footprint (excluding linear components) will be placed the which will ultimately house the Larissa Solar Power Plant. This area will be refined over the course of the EIA process.
The proposed Larissa 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 (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.

Generation from the facility will tie in with the on-site step up and switching substation that will be connected to the Bernina MTS or Hera MTS. Electrical Grid Infrastructure (EGI) will be placed within a connection corridor which will be assessed. The EGI connection corridor that will form part of this application will have a length of up to 6 km long and a width of up to 1.2 km. Proposed EGI includes:
• Single / double circuit overhead power lines of up 132 kV linking the proposed facility substation / Eskom switching station to the Bernina MTS or Hera MTS
• Underground or overhead cabling between project components of up to 132 kV;
• An on-site IPP facility substation and Eskom Substation of up to 132kV

Electrical Grid Infrastructure (including power lines, cabling and substations) is also being proposed within a corridor on Portion 4 of Farm Hartebeestfontein 366 – IQ; Portions 8, 18, 26, 69, 70 and 78 of Farm Kalbasfontein 365 – IQ; Portions 11, 12, 14, 15, 32, 35 and 36 of the Farm Modderfontein 345 – IQ; and Portions 9, 41 and 49 of the Farm Doornpoort 347 – IQ.

Province(s): Gauteng