PROPOSED FE GREEN AIR WIND FARM BESS AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE NEAR BLOEMFONTEIN, FREE STATE PROVINCE

Developing a standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is beneficial as it enhances grid stability and reliability by smoothing out fluctuations in power supply and demand. This becomes particularly crucial with the increasing incorporation of variable renewable energy sources such as solar PV (photovoltaic) and wind energy generation. Additionally, standalone BESS improves the efficiency of existing infrastructure, thereby reducing the necessity for costly expansions or alterations to the conventional grid system. BESS facilitates optimal resource utilisation by storing surplus energy during off-peak periods and delivering it during peak demand times.

The Applicant, FE GREEN AIR WIND FARM (PTY) LTD, is proposing the installation and establishment of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and associated infrastructure to accommodate the storage of energy. The associated infrastructure includes an on-site substation, roads, operation and maintenance buildings, fencing and other auxiliary infrastructure, that will ultimately connect the FE Green Air Wind Farm BESS to the existing Eskom Harvard Substation. The capacity of the BESS will be up to 220 MW / 880 MWh. The development is proposed on Portion 1 of the Farm Oranjezicht No. 1074, Registration Division Bloemfontein, situated within the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality. The city of Bloemfontein (centre) is located approximately 10 km southeast of the proposed development, just outside of the urban area. The site proposed for the development is approximately 15.4 ha in extent.

The proposed FE Green Air Wind Farm BESS and Associated Infrastructure will include the following infrastructure:
• Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), of up to 220 MW / 880 MWh, required for the storage of excess energy / electricity. The BESS will have an extent of up to 10.2 ha. Lithium-Ion Battery technology is proposed to be utilised.
• Inverters and transformers to ultimately connect the FE Green Air Wind Farm BESS to the Harvard Substation.
• On-site Substation, located within an approximately 3.5 ha area.
• Internal, access, and perimeter roads to access the various project components. The roads will be up to 10 m wide during construction and up to 8 m wide during operations. Existing roads will be used and upgraded where possible and new internal access roads will also be required.
• Supporting infrastructure is required in the form of auxiliary buildings (including basic services such as water and electricity). These include Operations & Maintenance (O&M) buildings and a laydown area. The O&M building will be of an extent of 1 ha and the laydown area 0.6 ha.
• For health, safety and security reasons, the facility will be required to be fenced off from the surrounding farms, with a fence height of approximately 2,5 metres.

Connection to the existing Eskom Harvard Substation will be via an overhead power line which will be assessed and approved in a separate application process. The proposed FE Green Air Wind Farm BESS and Associated Infrastructure project is currently undergoing a registration process in terms of GNR 4557 of 27 March 2024.


Province(s): Free State