The Proposed Suikerbos PV 4 and Associated Infrastructure near Vereeniging, Gauteng Province

Suikerbos PV 4 (Pty) Ltd, is proposing the construction of a photovoltaic (PV) solar energy facility (known as the Suikerbos PV 4) located on the Remainder of Portion 1, Remainder of Portion 2 and Portion 5 (Kliplaagte) (Portion of Portion 1) of the Farm Badfontein No. 438 and Portion 11 of the Farm Boschkop No. 426, approximately 8 km east of Vereeniging in the Gauteng Province. Access to the proposed development site will either be gained from South Road or Grens Street, via Hewitt Road, or through the Remainder of Portion 1 and Remainder of Portion 2 of the Farm Badfontein No. 438.
The solar PV facility will comprise several arrays of PV panels and associated infrastructure and will have a contracted capacity of up to 250 MW. The development area is situated within the Midvaal Local Municipality within the Sedibeng District Municipality.

Three additional Solar PV facilities (Suikerbos PV 1, Suikerbos PV 2 and Suikerbos PV 3) are concurrently being considered on the surrounding properties and are being assessed through separate Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) processes.

The proposed Suikerbos PV 4 will cover approximately 525 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 33kV cabling between the project components and the facility substation
o A 132kV facility substation
o 33kV or 132kV cabling or powerline between the facility substation and the Eskom collector switching station.
o 132 kV powerline to the proposed Suikerbos 400kV MTS or an up to 132 kV powerline to the proposed Suikerbos 132 kV Collector Station.

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, including the proposed Suikerbos 132 kV Collector Station. The proposed Suikerbos 400kV MTS is also being assessed in a separate Scoping and EIA process.

Province(s): Gauteng