PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE AUTHORISED RAINMAKER LOPERBERG WIND ENERGY FACILITIES NEAR MOLTENO IN THE EASTERN CAPE

Loperberg Wind Farm (Pty) Ltd received an Environmental Authorisation (EA) for the construction of the Loperberg Wind Energy Facility, including overhead power line and associated infrastructure on a site (the ‘Property’) near Molteno in the Eastern Cape Province (DEA ref: 12/12/20/1778/2) on 02 November 2012. The original EIA (which received environmental authorisation in May 2011) and associated specialist studies considered five wind energy facilities collectively referred to as the Dorper Wind Farm (DEA ref: 12/12/20/1778).

The Dorper Wind Farm consisted of five phases: Dorper Wind Energy Facility, Loperberg Wind Energy Facility, Malabar Wind Energy Facility, Spinning Head Wind Energy Facility and Spreeukloof Wind Energy Facility. The authorisation for the Loperberg Wind Energy Facility was received following the application to amend the Dorper Wind Farm authorisation (i.e. splitting of the project into phases) for the broader facility. Subsequent amendments have been granted for the project as follows:
DFFE Ref: 12/12/20/1778/2 (dated 20 May 2013): Amendment to the properties specified for the project, as well as turbine specification changes.
DFFE Ref: 12/12/20/1778/2/AM2 (dated 23 February 2015): Amendment to the EA validity (extension)
DFFE Ref: 12/12/20/1778/2/AM3 (dated 13 June 2016): Amendment to the EA validity (extension)
DFFE Ref: 12/12/20/1778/2/AM4 (dated 15 November 2018): Amendment to the EA validity (extension).

The proponent is now applying for a substantive amendment (Part II) towards amending the EA with the following amendments:
Amendment of turbine specifications, to be as follows:
Wind turbine generators (up to 34 turbines), comprising a hub height of ‘up to 120m’ and rotor diameter of ‘up to 176m’, as opposed to the currently authorised number of 76, with hub height and rotor diameter of 120 and 125, respectively.
A reduction in the authorised number of turbines from the currently authorised 76 turbines, to reflect as ‘up to 34’ wind turbines. An updated layout will be provided for the amendment towards reflecting the removal of turbines from the currently authorised.
Update of the project description to reflect the revised 132KV grid connection line routing and substation location, respectively.
Removal of the specification of the facility capacity within the EA, to rather reflect the number of authorised turbines as per the revised layout.
Update of the project description and listed activity description with specific inclusion of the location and capacity specification of the Eskom substation and 400KV grid line capacity, which was not previously explicitly included in the Loperberg EA but was assessed as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment.
Extension of the Environmental Authorisation (EA) validity by an additional two years
Inclusion of Portion 6 of the Farm Paarde Kraal 64 in the project description, as assessed in the Loperberg EIA

The purpose of the facility will be to provide up to 190MW of power to be exported to the national energy grid. The project is intended to be bid into future rounds of the Department of Energy’s (DoE) Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement (REIPPP) Programme. The Wind Energy Facility, including overhead powerline, substation infrastructure and all associated infrastructure will occupy and area of up to 5972ha, and include the following:
Wind turbines and associated foundations to support the turbine towers.
Underground electrical distribution cabling between the turbines.
A shared substation with Spreeukloof or Penhoek Pass projects for evacuation to the national energy grid.
Internal access roads
Offices and workshop buildings for maintenance
Laydown areas.