1. Professor H. J Annegarn, Ms L Cape
SPATIAL ANALYSIS TO PROMOTE RENEWABLES AND IMPROVE EFFICIENCY: IAIA – Montreal Canada 5 April 2017 Ms D Fischer
Professor H. J Annegarn, Ms L Cape

2. CO2 reduction imperative
SA carbon intensive economy
77% primary energy from coal
90% for electricity generation
2009, CO2 emissions tonnes/capita- global average 4.5 t/c
The National Development Plan – SA to diversify energy choices as a priority
Integrated Resource plan 2010 to energy mix includes 17.8 GW renewable energy
3 725 MW Renewable Energy commissioned by 2016 and 17.8 GW by – procured by competitive bidding
2011 Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Process launched – REI4P
First phase – 5 bid windows
Bid requirement to have a positive Environmental Authorisation

3. Success of the REI4P from inception
Windows 1 – 4
Investor involvement renewable energy applications submitted between bid window 1 to 4
Prices reduced by 54% for wind and 76% for solar PV from bid window 1 to 4
Over job opportunities created for South African citizens
12 new industrial facilities established in SA
R53.4 billion in foreign investment and financing to date
December 2016:
power purchase agreements signed for MW
Commissioned MW 
June 2016:
7 million tons of CO2 equivalent reductions realised
Over 20 years a total of 902 million tons – or the equivalent of four full years of current electricity emissions at 2014/2015 levels
R19.2 billion committed towards social economic development initiatives
2016 no further power purchase agreements signed – reduce energy needs, costs of new grid

4. REI4P – Unintended consequence on EIA numbers
Bid window
Reporting period
Number of new applications
Total number of new applications per bid window
Number of amendments
S&EIR
BAR
Prior to REFIT & REI4P
Prior to 2009 2
N/A
Not recorded 1
2009 to
250 91
341 20 to 54 59
113 23 3 to
232 72
304
130 4 to 96 33
129
114
Sub-total to bid window 4:
634
255
889
287
Post 4 to 44 47 77
Total:
678
258
936
364
Department structured to receive 400 applications for EA per annum – bid window 3 almost double
EIA done 3 years prior to construction – several amendments required
As at March appeals received on wind and solar authorisations
8.5% projects receiving environmental authorisations were preferred bidders (90 of 889)
Low success rate – time spent reviewing unsuccessful projects

5. REI4P – Quality of information submitted in EIAs – linking of REI4P to a competitive bidding process
reviewed four wind energy applications – against generally accepted impacts of the technology
Speculative nature of the EIAs reduced quality and increased amendments and appeals
Case study 1
Case study 2
Case study 3
Case study 4
Average
Timing of specialist studies
50%
25%
38%
Identification of key impacts associated with wind energy technologies
81%
71%
78.5%
Assessment of impacts
72%
55%
63%
65.5%
Environmental statement provided
46%
54.5%
Identify and propose generally acceptable mitigation measures
27%
43%
Site specific mitigation measures are transferred to the EMPR
36%
Provide a level of site-specific assessment that exceeds that which could be achieved through a geographical assessment.
57%
Overall average

6. 3 SEAs undertaken Objective:
best locations for wind/solar/grid based on resource, environmental sensitivity, social and engineering consideration
Reduce workload associated with REI4P applications
Ensure environmental protection

7. SEA identified environmental instruments to reduce timeframes and address EIA shortcomings
Developed Integrated Environmental Management Instruments
Generic EMP for electricity grid infrastructure
Pre-screening tool based on GIS layering of environmental and engineering information
Assessment protocols linked to environmental sensitivity
Gazetting REDZs and power corridors – facilitate spatial planning
Pre-screening tool allows for early identification of specialist studies to be undertaken
Pre-screening tool identifies impacts for consideration based on environmental sensitivity
Protocols linked to site sensitivity identify the level of assessment required
Protocol identifies requirement for an environmental statement
Generic EMPR identifies mitigation measures for electricity grid infrastructure
Statements identify requirement for mitigation

8. Streamlining allows for post bid authorisations
IEM Instruments allows for shortened review timeframes
Pre-assessment allows reduced review and authorisation timeframes from 300 to 147 days
Appeal 90 days
8 months in total required
Shortened review timeframes allows for post bid authorisations - preferred bidder to financial close 11 months
SEA Basic Assessment Process – 147 days
Pre-application (Optional)
SUBMIT APPLICATION AND CONSULTATION DOCUMENT
90 days
COMMENTING AND STATE OWNED
ENTITY COMMENT PERIOD 30 DAYS
Bid Window 1
Bid Window 2
Bid Window 3
Bid Window 4
Amended 11 12 14
Power purchase agreement to be signed
SUBMIT BAR FOR REVIEW
COMPETENT AUTHORITY REVIEW AND DECISION MAKING
57 days

9. Conclusion Programmes linking competitive bidding to EIA impacts:
Quality
Work levels
SEA – using GIS and applying pre-screening can
Improve spatial planning and implement the avoidance hierarchy
Can improve quality of information submitted to the EIA process
Can reduce workload
Achieve by:
Improving environmental information
Streamlined processes
Ability to defer EIA process by reducing potential for fatal flaws 899 – 90
Spatial planning can promote renewables and improve efficiency