Renewable Energy EIA Application Database for SA
The latest South African Renewable Energy EIA Application Data, is available for download, and contains spatial data for renewable energy applications for environmental authorisation. It includes spatial and attribute information for both active (in process and with valid authorisations) and non-active (lapsed or replaced by amendments) applications.
Data is captured and managed on a parcels level as well as aggregated to the project level. Only outer boundaries are provided in this release.
New sites will be systematically added to the database in subsequent releases. The data is released on a quarterly basis.
Note to the RE industry:
All stakeholders have been invited to review and comment on the dataset downloadable from this website. Please submit any discrepancies, possible errors and comments i.t.o. the Renewable Energy EIA Application Map to Reapplicationmap@environment.gov.za.
Interactive mapservice for SA REEA EIA Application Data
Strategic Environmental Assessment for the roll out of wind and solar PV energy in South Africa
Version 1 of the Renewable Energy (RE) Environmental Impact Assessment Application Map produced in collaboration between the national Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Centre of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies (CRSES) has been publicly released.
The wind and solar PV SEA is the first to be undertaken by DEA as part of facilitating efficient implementation of the Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs) that were introduced in the 2012 National Infrastructure Development Plan. This wind and solar energy SEA forms part of SIP 8, which is the promotion of green energy in support of the South African economy. The SEA is being conducted in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders representing government, industry and NGOs.
For the first time in South Africa, a comprehensive database is available on the existing applications for environmental authorisation for renewable energy projects in South Africa. This includes projects that have received environmental authorisation as well as those with EIAs still in progress or cancelled. The intent is to update and improve this database on a regular basis.
The Renewable Energy EIA applications map forms part of the DEA Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the efficient and effective rollout of wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) energy. In December 2012, DEA appointed the CSIR to undertake an SEA with the aim of identifying geographical areas best suited for the roll-out of wind and solar PV energy projects, referred to as Renewable Energy Development Zones (REDZs), in which development will be incentivised and streamlined.