Paulputs North WEF Amendment

Paulputs Wind Energy Facility (RF) (Pty) Ltd (‘PWEF’), a wholly owned subsidiary of WKN Windcurrent SA (Pty) Ltd, was granted environmental authorisation for the 300 MW (75 Turbine) Paulputs Wind Energy Facility (WEF) and its associated 132 kV grid connection on 11 December 2019 by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) (DFFE Reference No. 14/12/16/3/3/2/1120) (Figure 1). PWEF are proposing to give permission to Paulputs Wind Energy Facility North (RF) (Pty) Ltd and Paulputs Wind Energy Facility South (Pty) Ltd to split and amend the Environmental Authorisation (EA) into three amendment applications for EA.

The summary of each amendment application is defined below:

- Paulputs North Amendment: Paulputs Wind Energy Facility North (RF) (Pty) Ltd (‘Paulputs North’ – The Applicant) intents to construct and operate a 150MW WEF (Paulputs North WEF) consisting of up to 40 turbines, with a hub height of up to 180m, blade length of up to 110m and a rotor diameter of up to 220m. This authorisation will also include the authorised Paulputs WEF preferred on-site substation and a proposed Battery Energy Storage Facility in the area authorised for temporary laydown. All infrastructure is to be located on the western side of the N14 Highway. This amendment application and report will be referred to as the ‘proposed amendment’;
- Paulputs North Grid Connection Amendment: PWEF give permission to Paulputs Wind Energy Facility North (RF) (Pty) Ltd to remove the authorised 132 kV Grid Connection (Option C) from its authorisation in favour of ownership by Paulputs Wind Energy Facility North (RF) (Pty) Ltd (‘Paulputs North’) for use at the Paulputs North WEF site. The approved grid connection will be taken over by Eskom in the future and thus requires its own Environmental Authorisation; and
- Paulputs South Amendment: Paulputs Wind Energy Facility South (‘Paulputs South’) intents to construct and operate a 150MW WEF (Paulputs South WEF) consisting of up to 35 turbines, with a hub height of up to 180m, blade length of up to 110m and a rotor diameter of up to 220m.

The focus of this amendment report is on the Paulputs North WEF Amendment

The majority of the same specialists were commissioned for this amendment report, with exception of the Avifaunal study. The original Avifaunal study for the approved Paulputs WEF EIA was undertaken by Andrew Pearson whom is no longer an employee of Arcus.

Dr Owen Davies has replaced Andrew and undertook an additional site visit in February 2020 to verify the information contained in the approved Paulputs WEF Avifaunal specialist report. Dr Davies’ avifaunal report and site verification report are contained in Volume II of this report