Notices > Identification of Procedures to be followed when applying for or deciding on an Environmental Authorisation Application for large scale wind and solar photovoltaic facilities, when occurring in renewable energy development zones

The Phase 2 Strategic Environmental Assessment for Wind and Solar Photovoltaic Energy in South Africa, 2019 identified 3 additional Renewable Energy Development Zones that are of strategic importance for large scale wind and solar photovoltaic energy development. These Renewable Energy Development Zones were published under Government Notice No. 786, Government Gazette No. 43528 17 July of 2020. The areas identified are included on the map provided as Appendix 1 and are as follows:

Renewable Energy Development Zone Number	Name	Applicable Renewable Energy Technology
Renewable Energy Development Zone 9	Emalahleni	Large scale solar photovoltaic energy facilities
Renewable Energy Development Zone 10	Klerksdorp	Large scale solar photovoltaic energy facilities
Renewable Energy Development Zone 11	Beaufort West	Large scale solar photovoltaic energy facilities

The scope of this Notice applies to an application for an amendment to an environmental authorisation in Part 2 of Chapter 5 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2014, as (the Regulations), and an application for an environmental authorisation for the activities contemplated in paragraphs 2.1 and 2.2, including any associated activities necessary for the realisation of such a facility1, when the entire facility is undertaken within a Renewable Energy Development Zone identified in paragraph 1 of this Schedule, except where such activity has been excluded from the requirement to obtain an environmental authorisation in terms of the Act:

2.1	Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations Listing Notice 1 of 2014, as amended : 2.1.1. Activity 36; and

2.2	Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations Listing Notice 2 of 2014, as amended : 2.2.1. Activity 1

3.	In order to obtain an environmental authorisation for an activity contemplated in paragraph 2.2 the applicant must follow the basic assessment process contemplated in regulations 19 and 20 of the Regulations.

4.	The timeframe for decision-making on applications contemplated in paragraph 2 of this Notice is 57 days.

5.	An application for an environmental authorisation for large scale wind or solar photovoltaic facilities that do not meet the requirements contained in paragraph 2 will be considered in line with the requirements prescribed in terms of the Regulations.

6.	An application submitted prior to the date of coming into effect of this Notice and which is pending when this Notice takes effect, must be dispensed with in accordance with the requirements as prescribed at the time when such pending application was submitted.

7.	The boundaries of the Renewable Energy Development Zones referred to in this Schedule are available from the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries at http://egis.environment.gov.za - Geographical Areas.

8.	The information relating to the Renewable Energy Development Zones identified in this Schedule can also be obtained from:

PLACE

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9.	The Phase 2 Strategic Environmental Assessment for Wind and Solar Photovoltaic Energy in South Africa can be assessed at http://redzs.csir.co.za; or http://egis.environment.gov.za

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1 Associated activities include among others road infrastructure.

National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998)

Notices

Identification of Procedures to be followed when applying for or deciding on an Environmental Authorisation Application for large scale wind and solar photovoltaic facilities, when occurring in renewable energy development zones

Schedule