ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR A PROPOSED 75 MW CONCENTRATING SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANT AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE SIYANDA DISTRICT, NORTHERN CAPE Final Environmental Impact Report (Revision 01) DEA REFERENCE NO: 12/12/20/1920 A PROJECT FOR: FEBRUARY 2011 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (Revision 01) - ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR A PROPOSED 75 MW CONCENTRATING SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANT AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE SIYANDA DISTRICT, NORTHERN CAPE DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Client: Solafrica Thermal Energy (Pty) Ltd Report name: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR A PROPOSED 75 MW CONCENTRATING SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANT AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE SIYANDA DISTRICT, NORTHERN CAPE Report type: Final Environmental Impact Report (Revision 01) Project name: Solafrica Concentrating Solar Thermal Power Plant (Northern Cape) Bohlweki-SSI project number: E02.JNB.000674 DEA reference number: 12/12/20/1920 Document number: 2 Version: 1 Date: February 2011 Author(s): Date / location: Signature: 10 February 2011 Frank Benedek Woodmead, Johannesburg Reviewer: Date / location: Signature: 10 February 2011 Frank Benedek Woodmead, Johannesburg Approver: Date / location: Signature: 10 February 2011 Malcolm Roods Woodmead, Johannesburg E02.JNB.000674 I February 2011 Solafrica Thermal Energy (Pty) Ltd 2 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (Revision 01) - ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR A PROPOSED 75 MW CONCENTRATING SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANT AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE SIYANDA DISTRICT, NORTHERN CAPE E02.JNB.000674 II February 2011 Solafrica Thermal Energy (Pty) Ltd 2 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (Revision 01) - ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR A PROPOSED 75 MW CONCENTRATING SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANT AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE SIYANDA DISTRICT, NORTHERN CAPE TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Project Overview ........................................................................................................ 2 1.3 Approach to the EIA Studies...................................................................................... 6 1.3.1 Environmental Scoping Study .............................................................................. 8 1.3.2 Authority Consultation .......................................................................................... 9 1.3.3 Environmental Impact Assessment Study ......................................................... 10 1.3.4 Specialist Studies ............................................................................................... 10 1.4 Legal Considerations ............................................................................................... 12 1.5 Details of the Applicant ............................................................................................ 14 1.6 Details of the Environmental Assessment Practitioner ............................................ 15 1.7 Structure of this Report ............................................................................................ 16 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION .............................................................................................. 18 2.1 Electricity Generation using Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Technologies ....... 18 2.2 Fundamental Terminology ....................................................................................... 19 2.2.1 Insolation, Irradiance and Irradiation ................................................................. 19 2.3 Concentrating Solar Power Technology Options .................................................... 20 2.4 The Proposed Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Plant .......................................... 21 2.4.1 Parabolic Trough Plant Operation Explained..................................................... 21 2.4.2 Turbine and Generator ....................................................................................... 26 2.4.3 Heat Exchanging and Cooling ........................................................................... 27 2.4.3.1 Wet Cooling ....................................................................................................... 27 2.4.3.2 Dry Cooling ........................................................................................................ 28 2.4.3.3 Hybrid Cooling ................................................................................................... 29 2.4.3.4 Cooling Methods – Advantages and Disadvantages ......................................... 29 2.4.4 Thermal Storage ................................................................................................ 30 2.4.5 CSP Plant Typology ........................................................................................... 30 2.4.6 CSP Plant Interfaces .......................................................................................... 32 2.4.6.1 Civil Works and Infrastructure ............................................................................ 32 2.4.6.2 Vehicle Access / Service Roads ........................................................................ 34 2.4.6.3 Electricity Supply/Connection Infrastructure ...................................................... 34 2.4.6.4 Water Supply and Management ........................................................................ 37 2.4.6.5 Auxiliary Heating System / Boiler ....................................................................... 44 E02.JNB.000674 III February 2011 Solafrica Thermal Energy (Pty) Ltd 2 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (Revision 01) - ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR A PROPOSED 75 MW CONCENTRATING SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANT AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE SIYANDA DISTRICT, NORTHERN CAPE 2.4.6.6 Stormwater Management ................................................................................... 45 2.4.6.7 Security .............................................................................................................. 45 2.4.6.8 Fire protection .................................................................................................... 45 2.4.6.9 Windbreak .......................................................................................................... 45 2.4.6.10 Dangerous Goods Storage ................................................................................ 45 3 PROJECT ALTERNATIVES ........................................................................................... 48 3.1 No-go Alternative ..................................................................................................... 48 3.2 Site Alternatives ....................................................................................................... 49 3.2.1 Site Alternatives Identified within the Northern Cape Province for the Establishment of a New Concentrating Solar Power Plant ............................... 50 3.2.2 Description of Identified Site Alternatives .......................................................... 50 3.3 Plant Location Alternatives ...................................................................................... 53 3.4 Technology Alternatives .......................................................................................... 53 4 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS ............................................................................ 57 4.1 Public Participation Process - Scoping Phase ......................................................... 57 4.1.1 Overview ............................................................................................................ 57 4.1.2 Stakeholders ...................................................................................................... 58 4.1.3 Stakeholder and I&AP Comments ..................................................................... 59 4.1.4 Registered I&APs ............................................................................................... 71 4.2 Public Participation Process - EIA Phase ................................................................ 75 4.2.1 Review of Draft Environmental Impact Assessment Report .............................. 75 4.2.2 Public and Focus Group Meetings ..................................................................... 75 4.2.3 Social Issues Trail .............................................................................................. 76 4.2.4 Final Environmental Impact Assessment Report ............................................... 76 4.2.5 Environmental Authorisation .............................................................................. 76 5 SITE SELECTION AND SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS ........................................................ 77 5.1 Site Selection ........................................................................................................... 77 5.1.1 Approach to Site Selection................................................................................. 77 5.1.1.1 Site Evaluation – Field Studies .......................................................................... 77 5.1.1.2 Specialist Studies ............................................................................................... 77 5.1.1.3 Site Evaluation ................................................................................................... 81 5.1.2 Site Evaluation Findings ...................................................................................