Consultation on the intention to exclude solar photovoltaic and battery storage facilities from the requirement to obtain an environmental authorisation in certain circumstances
17 April 2023
The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy, has launched the public consultation on the intention to exclude the development and expansion of solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery storage facilities from the requirement to obtain environmental authorisation.
The exclusions apply when the facilities are developed in areas confirmed to be of “low” or “medium” environmental sensitivity and will be subject to a site sensitivity verification, compliance to a site-specific environmental management programme and a registration process.
This is in line with the sector’s ongoing efforts to simplify the environmental legislative impact assessment framework for energy projects whilst ensuring that environmental protection is not compromised.
The intention of the proposed exclusions is aimed at improving the efficiency of the environmental assessment process. In addition, these exclusions intend to simplify the deployment of solar PV and battery storage facilities, to expedite the generation of electricity from renewable energy resources, facilitate the distribution of this generation capacity and contribute to addressing the existing electricity shortages currently being experienced by the country.
Members of the public are invited to submit written comments or input within 30 days of publication of both government notices to any of the following addresses:
By post to:
Director-General, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Attention: Dr Dee Fischer
Private Bag X447
Pretoria
0001
By hand at
Reception
Environment House
473 Steve Biko Road
Arcadia
Pretoria
By email: dfischer@dffe.gov.za
Any inquiries in connection with the notice can be directed to:
Dr Dee Fischer
Tel: 012 399 8843
E-mail: dfischer@dffe.gov.za
Comments or inputs received after the closing dates may not be considered.
To access the Government Gazettes, click here »
- National Environmental Management Act (107/1998): Consultation on the intention to exclude the development and expansion of solar photovoltaic facilities from the requirement to obtain an environmental authorisation based on the solar exclusion norm [G 48425 – GoN 3286]
- National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No.107 of 1998): Consultation on intention to exclude identified activities associated with development and expansion of battery storage facilities from the requirement to obtain environmental authorisation based on the battery storage exclusion norm [G 48429 – GoN 3308]
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