THE PROPOSED MOLEMO PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) SOLAR ENERGY FACILITY AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE, NEAR KOPPIES, FREE STATE PROVINCE

The Applicant, South Africa Mainstream Renewable Power Developments (Pty) Ltd, is proposing the development of a Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Energy Facility (SEF), known as the Molemo SEF, situated within the Ngwathe Local Municipality and the Fezile Dabi District Municipality, Free State Province. The proposed Molemo SEF and Associated Infrastructure is located on the Remaining Extent (RE) and Portion 2 of the Farm Vlakkuil No. 235, Registration Division Heilbron. The Molemo SEF will connect to the existing Eskom Greenlands Rural substation via an 88 kV overhead power line to an 88 kV feeder bay or via a Loop-In-Loop-Out (LILO) configuration to the existing Greenlands Rural/Heilbron Rural 1 88 kV overhead power line from the proposed on-site substation. An up to 650 metre (m) wide and up to 800 m long grid connection corridor has been identified for assessment. The proposed grid connection corridor will traverse RE of the Farm Vlakkuil No. 235, Registration Division Heilbron; the Remaining Extent (RE) and Portion 3 of the Farm Josina No. 371, Registration Division Koppies. The project site is located approximately 20 km northeast of the town of Koppies and approximately 30 km south of the town of Sasolburg in the Free State Province. The SEF will comprise several arrays of PV panels and associated infrastructure and will have a contracted capacity of up to 75 MW. A development (assessment) area of up to 810 hectares (ha) has been identified for assessment for the proposed development.
Province(s): Free State