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Avifaunal Impact Assessment: Scoping

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Avifaunal Impact Assessment: Scoping AVIFAUNAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT: SCOPING Proposed construction and operation of the 100MW Rondavel Solar Photovoltaic Facility, Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and associated infrastructure located near Kroonstad in the Free State Province November 2020 Page | 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY South Africa Mainstream Renewable Power Developments (Pty) Ltd is proposing the construction and operation of the 100 MW Rondavel Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Energy Facility (SEF) and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), near the town of Kroonstad in the Moqhaka Local Municipality (Fezile Dabi District) of the Free State Province of South Africa. The proposed PV facility will be connecting to the grid via a 132kV grid connection, which is the subject of a separate EA. This bird scoping assessment report deals only with the proposed 100 MW Rondavel Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Facility, and the associated infrastructure thereof. 1. Impacts The anticipated impacts were summarized, and a comparison made between pre-and post-mitigation phases as shown in the Table below. The rating of environmental issues associated with different parameters prior to and post mitigation of a proposed activity was averaged. A comparison was then made to determine the effectiveness of the proposed mitigation measures. The comparison identified critical issues related to the environmental parameters. Environmental Issues Anticipated rating prior to Anticipated rating post parameter mitigation mitigation Avifauna Displacement of 40 medium 30 medium priority species due to disturbance associated with construction of the PV plant and associated infrastructure. Displacement of 52 medium 44 medium priority species due to habitat transformation associated with construction of the PV plant and associated infrastructure. Mortality of priority 21 low 21 low species due to collisions with solar panels Entrapment of 21 low 7 low large-bodied birds in the double perimeter fence Mortality of priority 56 medium 11 low species due to electrocution on the 33kV internal reticulation network Page | 2 Cumulative impact 44 medium 28 low of displacement due to construction and habitat transformation, collisions with solar panels and entrapment in fences Average 39 medium 20 low 2. Environmental sensitivities The following environmental sensitivities were identified from an avifaunal perspective: • Surface water: Very High sensitivity (No solar panels – other infrastructure allowed) Included are areas within 200m of the dam on the development area. It is important to leave open space for birds to access and leave the surface water area unhindered. Surface water is also important area for raptors to hunt birds which congregate around water troughs, and they should have enough space for fast aerial pursuit. • Drainage line woodland: Very High sensitivity (No solar panels – other infrastructure allowed) Drainage lines are corridors of woodland which provide nesting and foraging opportunities for woodland species which are dependent on this habitat for their survival. The majority of thew woodland and trees at the development area is concentrated around the drainage line. A 100m buffer zone should be implemented on both side of the drainage channel. See the figure below for the avifaunal sensitivities identified from a PV solar perspective. Page | 3 3. Conclusions The proposed 100 MW Rondavel Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Energy Facility will have an anticipated medium negative impact on priority avifauna, which is expected to be reduced to low with appropriate mitigation. No fatal flaws are expected to manifest in the course of the investigations. The cumulative impact of the facility on priority avifauna within a 30km radius around the proposed development is also anticipated to be low, mainly due to the small size of the proposed development, and the small number of additional renewable energy projects. ------------------------------------ Page | 4 CONTENTS 2. ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITIES ............................................................................................................................ 3 3. CONCLUSIONS ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 CONTENTS .................................................................................................................................................................... 5 DETAILS OF THE SPECIALIST AND EXPERTISE TO COMPILE A SPECIALIST REPORT .................................... 6 SPECIALIST DECLARATION ....................................................................................................................................... 6 NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACT, 1998 (ACT NO. 107 OF 1998) AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REGULATIONS 2014 (AS AMENDED) REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIALIST REPORTS (APPENDIX 6) . 7 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................... 9 PROJECT DETAILS ................................................................................................................................................ 9 2 PROJECT SCOPE ............................................................................................................................................... 12 3 OUTLINE OF METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION REVIEWED .................................................................. 12 4 ASSUMPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS .................................................................................................................. 13 5 LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT ................................................................................................................................... 14 5.1 AGREEMENTS AND CONVENTIONS ....................................................................................................................... 14 5.2 NATIONAL LEGISLATION ...................................................................................................................................... 15 5.3 PROVINCIAL LEGISLATION ................................................................................................................................... 15 6 BASELINE ASSESSMENT ................................................................................................................................. 16 6.1 IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS .................................................................................................................................... 16 6.2 CRITICAL BIODIVERSITY AREAS (CBAS) .............................................................................................................. 16 6.3 DEFF NATIONAL SCREENING TOOL .................................................................................................................... 16 6.4 NATIONAL PROTECTED AREAS EXPANSION STRATEGY (NPEAS) FOCUS AREAS .................................................... 16 6.5 BIOMES AND VEGETATION TYPES ......................................................................................................................... 16 6.6 BIRD HABITATS ................................................................................................................................................... 16 7 AVIFAUNA IN THE DEVELOPMENT AREA ...................................................................................................... 17 7.1 SOUTH AFRICAN BIRD ATLAS PROJECT 2 ............................................................................................................ 17 7.2 ON-SITE SURVEYS .............................................................................................................................................. 21 8 IMPACT ASSESSMENT...................................................................................................................................... 24 8.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................... 24 8.2 IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH PV PLANTS ............................................................................................................... 25 9 IMPACT RATING ................................................................................................................................................. 28 9.1 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ........................................................................................................................................ 30 9.2 NO-GO ALTERNATIVE ......................................................................................................................................... 31 9.3 ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITIES .......................................................................................................................... 31 10 PLAN OF STUDY ................................................................................................................................................ 31 11 PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS ......................................................................................................................... 32 12 REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................................................... 32 APPENDIX 1: SABAP 2 SPECIES LIST FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AREA AND SURROUNDINGS ..................... 34 APPENDIX 2: HABITAT AT THE DEVELOPMENT AREA .......................................................................................
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