In a significant move to support the development of renewable energy, South Africa last month adopted new norms to simplify and speed up the authorisation process for solar photovoltaic (PV) facilities and battery energy storage systems (BESS).
According to Sam Leyde, a senior environmental consultant at SRK Consulting, the Forestry, Fisheries and Environment minister Barbara Creecy has exempted solar PV and BESS facilities which are developed or expanded in areas of low or medium environmental sensitivity from having to obtain environmental authorisation (EA) under the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA).
Leyde noted that, while the draft Integrated Resource Plan of 2023 promotes the development of renewables in South Africa subject to the requisite environmental approvals, the obtaining of such approvals has typically involved lengthy environmental impact assessment (EIA) processes of up to 18 months – making the rapid delivery of renewables difficult. He pointed out that the new norms do not apply to windfarms, which often have more significant impacts – notably to avifauna.
Read the full article on Cape Business News.
