Bloukrans Solar
PV1 & 2

Site location

The proposed Bloukrans solar farm is located 6.5 km south of Colenso, in the Uthukela Municipality in Kwa-Zulu Natal. The development is in two phases and has been planned in one continuous area which is predominantly used for animal grazing. Please see the site layout plan.

KEY FACTS

• Solar installed capacity for each phase: 237 MWac

• Battery Storage Capacity for each phase: 100 MW, so energy can be distributed when it is needed most

• Electricity generated equivalent to the consumption of approximately 170,000 average homes for each phase

• Approximately 110,000 tonnes of CO2 saved each year for each phase

• Bifacial, single-axis tracker solar panels to maximise energy generation

• Construction expected to take approximately two years for each phase

• Time-limited development – at the end of the project’s operational life (at least 25 years) all infrastructure will be removed and the land restored

LAND USE, LANDSCAPE & NATURE

• Continued agricultural use with sheep grazing

• Initial specialist soil studies have identified the sight as low agricultural sensitivity and the area is outside any PAA designations

• Substantial Biodiversity Net Gain with an appropriate native grass and wildflower mix sown around the panels

• Animal habitats to be constructed throughout the site, e.g bird & bat boxes, bug hotels 

• Natural planting will be added for more screening and biodiversity

• Total site area approx 700 hectares

• Panels cover 30% of the total site area, but less than 5% is disturbed by the actual footprint

COMMUNITY BENEFITS

• Community Benefit Fund managed locally for the project lifetime

• Separate Education Fund to fund educational sessions and site visits to the solar farm with local schools. Read more.

• Job creation- at least 750 direct jobs in construction and another 150 indirectly in the supply chain, the majority of them local

Environmental impact assessment

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) scoping report has been submitted, with an EIA screening report to follow. The EIA application will include detailed reports, such as:

• Birds Study (Avifauna Report)

• Soils Report

• Animals Study (Terrestrial Report)

• Wetlands Report

• Heritage Report

To read the EIA reports please click here.

FOR CLIMATE, NATURE AND PEOPLE

WHY HERE?

• The landscape is suitable for a solar farm as the topography is flat and the agricultural quality of the land is low.

• Not within the designated Protected Agricultural Areas, Conservation Areas, Nature Reserve or Biosphere Reserve.

• Proximity to substation for exporting the power generated

• Land use is suitable for biodiversity enhancement

WHY SOLAR?

Solar is a cornerstone of the SA’s drive for energy security and lower energy bills. By harnessing a free and abundant local energy source, utility-scale solar farms reduce the reliance on burning fossil fuels, mitigating the risks of global price volatility and supply chain disruptions, particularly from hostile regimes.

Large-scale solar is now the cheapest form of new electricity generation in South Africa, along with wind power.

Generating energy from fossil fuels is the biggest contributor to climate change globally. The SA Government’s Integrated Resource Plan sets out a target of adding over 30GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. This includes a target of 6.4GW of solar PV.

FIND OUT MORE

About Eden Renewables

Our approach 

Landowners

HAVE YOUR SAY

We will be organising online webinars in July 2026 where you can meet the team and learn more about the project. To register for the webinars and provide your feedback on our proposals throughout the EIA process, please email Bloukrans@EdenRenewables.com