Caledon Wind Farm Final Scoping Report Aug2010
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Caledon Wind Environmental Impact Assessment for the proposed Caledon Wind Farm, Western Cape Province Final Environmental Scoping Report Arcus GIBB Project Number: J29164 DEA Reference Number: 12/12/20/1701 Date: August 2010 PROJECT INFORMATION Title: Final Environmental Scoping Report for the Proposed Caledon Wind Farm, Western Cape Province Environmental Authority: Department of Environmental Affairs DEAT Reference No.: 12/12/20/1701 Applicant: Epsispan (Pty) Ltd trading as ‘CaledonWind’ Environmental Consultants: Arcus GIBB (Pty) Ltd Date: August 2010 Caledon Wind Farm EIA 1 August 2010 Final Environmental Scoping Report EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction Epsispan (Pty) Ltd, trading as ‘ CaledonWind’ is proposing to establish a commercial Wind Farm and associated infrastructure on a site near Caledon in the Theewaterskloof Municipality, Western Cape Province. The proposed Caledon wind farm is expected to generate 300 MW and will comprise of up to 166 wind turbines. Associated infrastructure will include powerlines connecting the turbines to the existing overhead transmission lines, a new substation, access roads to the various turbines and upgrading of the Eskom Houwhoek Substation to increase capacity. This proposed project will be registered with the United Nation’s Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) as part of the Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM) Programme. Caledon Wind acknowledges this project as a ‘green’ initiative and have decided to, where possible, commit to making environmentally favourable decisions in respect of the project as a whole. In terms of the EIA Regulations, an application of this nature has to undergo both Scoping and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Arcus GIBB (Pty) Ltd (Arcus GIBB) have been commissioned by Caledon Wind, who is the project developers, to undertake the EIA process. This EIA will consider the potential positive and negative environmental and social impacts associated with the establishment of the proposed wind farm and will propose measures to mitigate the negative impacts of the proposed project on the receiving environment and community. Location The proposed project is situated within the Theewaterskloof Municipality, Western Cape Province. A study area of approximately 3 500 hectares, approximately 16 km west of Caledon and 7 km east of Botrivier, is being considered within which the proposed wind farm and associated infrastructure will be established. The land proposed to be leased for the project, comprises privately owned farms, all located adjacent to one another, was identified as a prime site for wind energy generation by a team of leading international Wind Engineers. A map indicating the farms and the location of the proposed site is provided in Figure 1 below. Caledon Wind Farm EIA 2 August 2010 Final Environmental Scoping Report Figure 1: Locality map for the proposed Caledon Wind Farm within the Theewaterskloof Municipality Caledon Wind Farm EIA 3 August 2010 Final Environmental Scoping Report Project Description • Wind Farm The wind farm is proposed to have a generating capacity of up to 300 MW and will comprise of up to 166 wind turbines, each of which will be between 1,8 – 3,6 MW generating capacity. International wind modelling and micro-siting expertise is being utilised to determine the exact layout of the wind turbines, according to the optimum wind speeds and directions identified. 1 • Access Roads Access roads will be required for the delivery of the turbines to their assembly positions during construction as well as to a temporary laydown area. • Powerlines The turbines and wind farm will be connected to the existing Overberg transmission powerlines through a medium voltage feeder power line. • Proposed new Substation and Houwhoek Substation Upgrade Where the lines connect to the existing Overberg powerlines a substation will be built and after the first phase of the project, Eskom’s Houwhoek Substation’s capacity will need to be upgraded. • Temporary Construction Laydown Area A temporary laydown area will be utilised during the construction phase of the project. • Staff Housing The project engineers will be housed on site in four new housing facilities to be constructed adjacent to the laydown area. These facilities will be converted into Tourism & Educational facilities after final commissioning of the Wind Farm. Labourers, including security guards, employed from the surrounding communities, will commute to the site daily. • Wind Farm Control Room A control room will operate from an office in an existing building in Caledon. • Transport Turbine components and some of the construction materials will be delivered to the site by road along the N2 and R43. Where possible, existing farm roads will be upgraded for transport within the proposed site, to the future benefit of the farm owners. A schematic diagram reflecting the description is provided in Figure 2 below. 1 At the outset of the project, 2 MW turbines with hub heights of 80 m and blade lengths of 40 m were initially discussed for consideration for the wind farm. Subsequently, varying turbine sizes have been considered to provide alternatives to be investigated in terms of environmental impacts associated with the different sizes. Caledon Wind Farm EIA 4 August 2010 Final Environmental Scoping Report Figure 2: Schematic representation of the Proposed Caledon Wind Farm Project Caledon Wind Farm EIA 5 August 2010 Final Environmental Scoping Report Benefits of a wind farm Renewable energy, produced from sustainable natural sources such as wind, provides incremental energy security and financial resources to stimulate sustainable development within the area where established. Furthermore, it will contribute towards South Africa meeting its international commitments, made in respect of limiting green house gas emissions, as well as government’s objectives, set out in the 2002 White Paper on Renewable Energy, and President Jacob Zuma’s commitments during the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change to the United Nations. Wind energy is plentiful, renewable, clean, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, when it replaces fossil-fuel derived electricity. It is thus attractive to governments, industry, and communities. As most of the sources are indigenous and naturally available, Wind energy is more secure in that it is not subject to disruption by international crises or limited supplies, nor fluxuations in the cost of raw materials, as experienced during the 2008 spike in oil costs, being naturally available. The location of the proposed wind farm in the Western Cape will also mean a reduction in line losses, associated with up to 70% of the Western Cape’s energy “imports” from Mpumalanga, as the wind farm will be located close to the customer load demand. Typical benefits associated with wind farms are: • Wind energy is renewable, clean and non-polluting, and does not produce by- products (atmospheric contaminants, Nuclear Waste or thermal pollution) that could be harmful to humans and the environment; • Wind farms are well suited to rural areas and therefore have a reduced impact on agriculture compared to other electricity generating options. Wind turbines can also contribute to economic growth in these regions; • Wind turbines make use of well proven & reliable technology in terms of design and construction; • Wind energy is competitively priced compared to other renewable energy sources, and does not require additional “input” materials such as Coal and Water; • Localized production of energy reduces transmission line losses associated with transmitting electricity over long distances; • The use of wind turbines displaces the use of coal and other fossil fuels with their associated emissions of Green House Gases; and • Wind Farms improve energy security for South Africa and the Western Cape, reducing dependency on imported fossil fuels. • Wind Energy does not use water in the production of Energy, whereas fossil-fuel based production uses 1.19L / KwH. Environmental Study Requirements In terms of the EIA Regulations published in Government Notice R385 of 21 April 2006 in terms of Section 24 (5) of the National Environmental Management Act (Act No. 107 of 1998), certain listed activities as set out in Government Notices R386 (activities that trigger Basic Assessments) and R387 (activities triggering Scoping and Environmental Impact Assessment processes or full EIAs) require environmental authorisation before they can proceed. The following activities have been identified as part of the proposed project: Caledon Wind Farm EIA 6 August 2010 Final Environmental Scoping Report Relevant Activity Describe each listed activity: Notice: No (s) Basic Assessment No. R. 7 The above ground storage of a dangerous good, including 386 petrol, diesel, liquid petroleum gas or paraffin, in 21 April containers with a combined capacity of more than 30 2006 cubic metres but less than 1 000 cubic metres at any one location or site. No. R. 12 The transformation or removal of indigenous vegetation of 386 3 hectares or more or of any size where the 21 April transformation or removal would occur within critically 2006 endangered or an endangered ecosystem listed in terms of section 52 of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004). No. R. 14 The construction of masts of any material or type and of 386 any height, including those used for telecommunication 21 April broadcasting and radio transmission, but excluding – 2006 (a) masts of 15 metres and lower exclusively used (i) by radio amateurs; or (ii) for lightning purposes (b) flag poles; and (c) lightning conductor poles No. R. 15 The construction of a road that is wider than 4 metres or 386 that has a reserve wider than 6 metres, excluding roads 21 April that fall within the ambit of another listed activity or which 2006 are access roads of less than 30 metres long. Scoping / EIA No. R. 1 (a) The construction of facilities or infrastructure, including 387 associated structures or infrastructure, for (i) the 21 April generation of electricity where the electricity output is 20 2006 megawatts or more; or (ii) the elements of the facility cover a combined area in excess of 1 hectare.