Wind Energy - Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

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Overview

An environmental impact assessment (EIA) is an assessment of the possible impact—positive or negative—that a proposed project may have on the environment, considering natural, social and economic aspects. The purpose of the assessment is to ensure that decision makers consider the ensuing environmental impacts to decide whether to proceed with the project.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Triggers

A simple schematic of the EIA process is shown in the diagram below. From the diagram it can be seen that there are effectively two types of EIA – one in which the project requires only a ‘basic assessment’ for consideration by the competent authority; and the other more comprehensive process in which the project proponent first prepares a scoping report, outlining the required scope
of environmental analysis, for consideration by the competent authority. After the authority is satisfied with the scoping report the project proponent then proceeds to the full environmental impact report.

Schematic EIA process

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Basic Assessment Processes

There are a number of potential project activities arising from a renewable energy project that could are included in the basic assessment listed activities. These include the following activites:
The construction of facilities or infrastructure, including associated structures or infrastructure, for:

• The generation of electricity where the electricity output is more than 10 MW but less than 20 MW
• The transmission and distribution of electricity above ground with a capacity of more than 33 kilovolts and less than 120 kilovolts
• Any purpose in the one in ten year flood line of a river or stream, or within 32 metres from the bank of a river or stream where the flood line is unknown, excluding purposes associated with existing residential use
• The off-stream storage of water, including dams and reservoirs, with a capacity of 50 000 cubic metres or more
• Construction or earth moving activities in the sea or within 100 metres inland of the high- water mark of the sea, in respect of buildings; or infrastructure

The construction of masts of any material or type and of any height, including those used for telecommunication broadcasting and radio transmission, but excluding – masts of 15 metres and lower exclusively used by radio amateurs; or for lighting purposes flag poles; and lightning conductor poles.

The above examples are not exhaustive and there are certainly other activities in the government notices which developers should consider to determine whether an EIA is required. In consideration of activities requiring EIAs developers should also note that it is not only the project itself that may require an EIA but also any upgrades that may be required to infrastructure, or associated infrastructure.

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Scoping / Environmental Impact Report Processes

Some activities need a thorough assessment process. These are activities that due to their nature and/or extent are likely to have significant impacts that cannot easily be predicted:

The construction of facilities or infrastructure, including associated structures or infrastructure, for:

• the generation of electricity where:

- the electricity output is 20 MW or more; or
- the elements of the facility cover a combined area in excess of one hectare

• the extraction or processing of natural gas including gas from landfill sites
• the transmission and distribution of above ground electricity with a capacity of 120 kilovolts or more
• Any development activity, including associated structures and infrastructure, where the total area of the developed area is, or is intended to be, 20 hectares or more
• The construction of a dam where the highest part of the dam wall, as measured from the outside toe of the wall to the highest part of the wall, is 5 metres or higher or where the high-water mark of the dam covers an area of 10 hectares or more

The above examples are not exhaustive and there are certainly other activities in the government notices which developers should consider to determine whether an EIA is required.
What is clear is that any renewable energy generation facility greater than 10 MW will require basic assessment and those greater than 20 MW will require a full scoping report and EIR. Many projects under 10 MW will also require at least a basic assessment due to other activities associated with their construction or operation.

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Description of Key EIA Steps

The following table is taken from the "Regional Regulatory Action Plan for the Western Cape" commissioned by the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning and the GIZ:

Steps	Description	Time frame (example Western Cape, RSA)
Intent to apply	Where a regional Strategic Environmental Assessment is in place, the developer should ensure that the project is consistent with the framework established by the SEA. Developer provides indication to the competent authority (CA) of their intent to apply for an environmental authorization	Developer to submit 14 days before first application form submitted
Basic Assessment	The basic assessment must include: 1. Activity information 2. Description of receiving environment 3. Public Participation process 4. Impact assessment	The competent authority has 14 days to acknowledge receipt of report
Scoping	The Scoping Report covers the main environmental impacts, the depth of analysis needed & the terms of reference for the full assessment. This stage applies to projects which may have impacts that cannot be predicted.	The competent authority has 30 days to either accept, reject or request amendment to Scoping Report
Environmental Impact Assessment	Full EIA is prepared in accordance with the Scoping Report. The EIA lays out: 1. Possible impacts of the activity/ies 2. Actions that can be taken to lessen these	The competent authority has 60 days tolook at both these reports
Environmental Management Plan (EMP)	The EIA has to include a full EMP for consideration by the competent authority. The EMP aims to highlight: 1. Unnecessary negative impacts of the project for prevention 2. Promotion of the positive impacts
Environmental Authorisation / Record of Decision (RoD)	The RoD includes: 1. Conditions for the authorisation 2. Ways in which the protection of human health and the environment can be ensured	The competent authority presents decision on authorisation within 45 days (includes conditions as well as relevant appeal information)

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Examples

Results of EIA for sites near Walvis Bay and Lüderitz Namibia: In the course of the study the possible dangers of a wind park to flora and fauna as well as effects due to noise and shadow flicker on nearby human settlements has been looked at.
Initially, the sites selected included 2 areas. Based on a site visit and the data evaluation, 2 more areas were investigated. According to the data available it could be concluded that environmental problems can be minimised and are acceptable. All
considered sites are several kilometres away from any human settlements, so that noise emissions would not be problematic. The effect of shadow flicker will be calculated, however no problems are expected.
As far as the wildlife is concerned, there is a possible danger through wind parks to migratory and resident birds in certain areas as identified in a study undertaken by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET). Therefore, only those 3 of the 4 sites which
are situated outside the danger areas were further investigated.

Results of EIA for sites Ashegoda (Ethiopia) (total envisaged installation capacity of the projects is nominated to be approximately 40-60 MW at each site):An environmental impact assessment has been carried out by the feasibility study.
No serious impacts besides the permanent loss of agricultural land are to be considered neither for local inhabitants nor for flora and fauna. In detail:

• The land foreseen for the erection of the wind park is mainly used for pasture farming and agriculture. Approximately 20 hectares of farm land will be permanently lost for farming while further areas will be not available during the construction phase of the wind park, the loss of grain is estimated to 100 tons. A compensation is to be paid.
• During the construction period, care has to be taken that waste disposal and sanitary requirements are properly defined and implemented and precaution arrangements are taken to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
• No serious long-term impact to the local fauna is to be expected, no designated national wild life parks or reserve areas tap the wind park.
• No serious long-term impact to the local flora is to be expected.
• No serious long-term impact on birds is to be expected, no migration routes of birds are known for the area.
• No sanctuaries, no known historical or cultural sites exist in the proposed wind park area.

Results of EIA for sites Mesobo-Harena (Ethiopia) (total envisaged installation capacity of the projects is nominated to be approximately 40-60 MW at each site): An environmental impact assessment has been carried out.
No serious impacts besides the permanent loss of agricultural land are to be considered neither
for local inhabitants nor for flora and fauna. In detail:

• The land foreseen for the erection of the wind park is mainly used for pasture farming and agriculture, some areas are used as some kind of stone quarry (digging stones from the ground). Approximately 7 hectares of farm land will be permanently lost for
• farming while further areas will be not available during the construction phase of the wind park; the loss of stones is estimated to 15,000 m3. A compensation is to be paid.
• During the construction period, care has to be taken that waste disposal and sanitary requirements are properly defined and implemented and precaution arrangements are taken to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
• No serious long-term impact to the local fauna is to be expected, no designated national wild life parks or reserve areas tap the wind park.
• No serious long-term impact to the local flora is to be expected.
• No serious long-term impact on birds is to be expected, no migration routes of birds are known for the area.
• No sanctuaries, no known historical or cultural sites exist in the proposed wind park area.

Results from EIA China (19,2 MW Wind Park at Qiyueshan, Lichuan County, Hubei Province)

The area of the proposed wind park is used as farmland and is not declared as a natural reserve. On December 28, 1998, the Lichuan Municipality Environmental Bureau conducted an appraisal with the result that no negative impact on the local ecology and environment can be expected from the proposed wind park.
Considering the very sparse population in the wind park area, there will be no noteworthy annoyance caused by the operation (noise emission, disco effect etc.) of the wind park. According to the Chinese point of view, the future wind park could be an interesting sightseeing spot and could attract tourists.
The duration of the construction phase, including the preparation of the infrastructure, is estimated at 12 months. During this period, intensive traffic of heavy trucks and construction machines has to be expected along with dust and noise emission. Some of the
hills will be covered by gravel roads that branch off from the existing main road within the proposed wind park. These branch roads together with the assembling areas at each wind turbine site will occupy 1.4 to 1.5 % of the entire wind park site. Thus the loss
of pasture land will be very low.

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Further Information

• Feasibility Study - Wind Energy