The Proposed Suikerbos PV 1 and Associated Infrastructure near Vereeniging, Gauteng Province

Suikerbos PV 1 (Pty) Ltd, is proposing the construction of a photovoltaic (PV) solar energy facility (known as the Suikerbos PV 1) located on the Remainder of Portion 2, Portion 9 (Portion of Portion 3) and Portion 10 of the Farm Badfontein No. 438, approximately 10 km east of Vereeniging in the Gauteng Province. The solar PV facility will comprise several arrays of PV panels and associated infrastructure and will have a contracted capacity of up to 180 MW. The development area is situated within the Midvaal Local Municipality within the Sedibeng District Municipality. The site is accessible via the D1884 road, located adjacent to the development area.

Three additional Solar PV facilities (Suikerbos PV 2, Suikerbos PV 3 and Suikerbos PV 4) are concurrently being considered on the surrounding properties and are being assessed through separate Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) processes.

The proposed Suikerbos PV 1 will cover approximately 402 ha and will include the following infrastructure:
• PV modules and mounting structures
• Inverters and transformers
• Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
• Site and internal access roads (up to 8m wide)
• Operation and Maintenance buildings including a gate house and security building, control centre, offices, warehouses and workshops for storage and maintenance.
• Temporary and permanent laydown area
• Facility grid connection infrastructure, including:
o 33 kV cabling between the project components and the facility substation
o A 132 kV facility substation
o 33 kV or 132kV cabling or powerline between the facility substation and the Eskom collector switching station
o A Main Transmission Substation (MTS) up to 400 kV
o 400 kV Loop-In-Loop-Out (LILO) powerlines to connect the MTS to the existing Eskom 400 kV lines. A 300 m wide and approximately 1 km LILO grid connection corridor has been identified for assessment. Alternatively, an up to 132 kV powerline to the proposed Suikerbos 132 kV Collector Station would be developed.

A separate Basic Assessment is being undertaken to assess the grid connection infrastructure required to evacuate the energy from the Eskom collector switching station to the national grid, which includes the proposed Suikerbos 132 kV Collector Station.

Province(s): Gauteng