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According to recent national energy plans and policy documents, the number of renewable energy developments is expected to increase in South Africa, thus contributing to the diversification of the country’s energy system. Consequently, numerous solar power developments are being deployed in the sunny arid interior – areas generally represented by the Nama-Karoo and Savanna Biomes. These developments come with a range of novel environmental impacts, providing opportunities for multidimensional exploratory research. Here, a mixed-method approach was used to identify and investigate possible environmental impacts associated with two types of solar power plants: concentrating solar power and photovoltaic. Structured interviews conducted with experts and experienced professionals, together with observations from site visits generated complementary findings. In addition to the risk of cumulative ecological impacts associated with individual solar plant developments, landscape impacts of multiple power plants and the direct impact on avifauna were found to be the most significant environmental impacts. These direct impacts appear to be most significant during the construction stage, which represents an intensive 10% of the total power plant lifespan. This investigation provides an early, broad and informative perspective on the experienced and expected impacts of solar power in South African arid regions as well as insights to possible future research areas.

Abstract. The WWF proposes a renewable energy vision scenario for South Africa as an alternative to the currently mandated policy which favors additional nuclear in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Current policy also blends additional coal, hydropower, renewables and gas turbine (open and combined cycle) capacity. We validated and refined the WWF scenario showing that a renewable favored scenario potentially leads to the lowest cost system while also demonstrating better resilience. This paper focusses on the role that CSP plays within the WWF scenario. For the WWF scenario to lead to a low cost and reliable system, significant CSP capacity was needed and the optimal storage rating was high (avg. 12 hours). Through initial sensitivity analysis of the WWF scenario, we try to understand this role. Our findings suggest that provided CSP capacity is planned well, it indeed can play a pivotal role in our future. Not just in justifying a renewable path, but as essential in the best solution for South Africa in the period leading to 2030.