The Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme of South Africa saw work begin on the Scatecs’ Northern Cape solar project.
When complete, the project will have a 540MW total solar capacity, 225MW and 140MWh of battery storage, and 150MW of dispatchable power available under a 20-year power purchase agreement.
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Within 15 months of the start of construction, the Scatecs’ Northern Cape solar project is expected to begin supplying power. The facility, which will be roughly 10 km from top to bottom, will also include three co-located projects.
According to Jan Fourie, they were extremely careful when beginning to lay out the facility site. Learning from a rigorous environmental impact assessment process, they realized there was rich biodiversity in the region and that every precaution was taken to minimize the environmental impact. This was said by the executive vice president for Scatec in Sub-Saharan Africa, Jan Fourie.
The company reached a financial close on the development of the Kenhardt site earlier this year.
Fourie explains that the mitigation principle followed is avoidance, then relocation, and only then destruction.
He explains that this means the company would do everything possible to avoid any sensitive local fauna and flora and safeguard local ecosystems.
The Kenhardt region, according to Scatec, is rich in plant biodiversity.
Scatec on the preservation of animals and plants
Scatec notes that anyone who conducts any kind of construction work in the vicinity has a special responsibility due to the 16 species of fauna and 99 species of plants (flora) that are of conservation concern.
He said that their site’s configuration and the map had the locally sensitive areas identified.
Fourie also stated that they considered the hydrology and the location of quiver trees, among other ecological factors. He added that even the access roads were planned out carefully.
According to him, they took every precaution to stay away from the protected plant and animal communities.
Scatec had to conduct an environmental impact assessment as part of the site’s development.
He said that they worked with a specialist team that led them through the process. It is said that every plant that was moved was tracked and monitored. They had to apply for plant relocation permits.
Fourie claimed that they recorded plant species characteristics in the field during the searching and relocation process. He said that they used the most recent Geographic Information System for the task. After recording, a real-time management dashboard that included consolidated species data was fed with the field data.
The Northern Cape solar project must always maintain a net gain in species. This is according to Fourie’s interpretation of the legislation. He adds that the flora permit for quiver trees stipulates that 10 new trees must be planted for each tree that is relocated.
In accordance with the technology-agnostic risk mitigation power procurement program, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy awarded preferred bidder status to Scatec for three projects in June 2021.
The Northern Cape solar project’s total power capacity
The three projects were based on sites in South Africa’s sun-drenched Northern Cape Province. They have a total of 540 MW of solar power and 225 MW and 140 MWh of battery storage.
Finally, the firm estimates that the projects will cost $1 billion in total (R18 billion).
Good morning. My name is Ivan Moolman and I’m residing in Kenhardt and were born here. I read all this lovely stuff and what was done to protect nature to the best of their ability. What my concern is is that we as small upgrowing companies are taking for fools around here and we were lied by Scatec on the highest of levels. Mr Jan Fourie what is happening in Kenhardt is a disgrace for us and i really would appreciate it if the whole world could know about what is going on here. The big companies are coming in and press us to the lowest of pricess, but they arw hiring plant and machinery from outside allthough they said there would be a opportunity for us to supply. What Scatec always said is that you people of Kenhardt, you are our priority and we will always let you come first. They explain the line of which they will work and always was Kenhardt would be first. For an example they said if we would give an opportunity for drinking water supply why would we go outside if we didn’t start in Kenhardt first. Nowadays it is Kenhardt not taking into consideration at all. I would really appreciate it if the whole world can see what I’m writing here because we are very frustrated here in Kenhardt.