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New regulations have been gazetted to help accelerate the rollout of new renewable energy projects in South Africa,
Pertaining specifically to solar PV and battery storage facilities, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment recently "adopted the implementation of the norm for the exclusion of identified activities associated with the development and expansion of battery storage facilities in areas of low or medium environmental sensitivity.
Ll... and the norm for the exclusion of the development and expansion of solar photovoltaic facilities in areas of low or medium environmental sensitivity in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998); and were published in the Government Gazettes No 50387 and 50388, respectively."
The Department said exclusions will allow for the development of battery storage and solar PV facilities in areas of confirmed low and medium environmental sensitivity.
Interventions to help spur renewable energy sector
This can be done without obtaining an environmental authorisation prior to commencement, while still meeting the objectives of the Act.
"Throughout the years, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has undertaken a number of strategic environmental assessments related to energy technologies and grid infrastructure which transmits and distributes the energy generated.
"These interventions, while ensuring the protection of the environment, will assist in the reduction of red tape and contribute to the speedy roll out of new renewable energy generation."
The Department said one of the tools developed is the national web-based environmental screening tool.
This provides guidance on environmental sensitivities of a specific geographic location or site related to various identified environmental themes.
"Environmental sensitivities are rated as very high, high, medium or low. In addition to the development of environmental management instruments, in 2022, the sector was professionalised with the requirement for an environmental assessment practitioner needing to be registered by the registration authority appointed by the Minister."
The DFFE said the development of the norm is part of the ongoing initiative to streamline the environmental legislative framework and to gain the benefits of the professionalisation of the environmental sector. |
