Kristen has an impressive academic background including a Masters in Ecology, and has been an invaluable asset to RWE for over six years.

“We are a team who cares about all wildlife. There are just so many examples of the good work we do; such as at An Suidhe wind farm in the Scottish Highlands where we have Black-throated Divers, which are a very charismatic species, and have installed rafts on the lochs so we can monitor raft use and nesting success.“

Hi there! My name is Kristen Liptrot, I’m an ecologist working for the Onshore Wind team in the UK and Ireland. I’ve been in this role for over six years now, and gosh has the time flown… as not one day is the same! 

Day to day I’m responsible for ensuring the implementation of RWE’s ecological commitments across our projects. These are outlined in the Habitat Management Plan (HMP), or equivalent, during the consenting phase when we are obtaining permission to build the wind farm. 

This means I manage all aspects of the work, from liaising with stakeholders and regulators to managing contracts with our ecological consultants. I review reports and work out solutions for varying issues, and I communicate internally and externally on all topics ecology related. 

I’m also the UK and Ireland Country Representative on our Biodiversity Country Coordinators working group – a very active area of the business that’s looking at how we can embed nature positive thinking, decisions, and actions into our everyday work to deliver benefits for biodiversity, over and above the site conditions prior to our wind farms being built. 

Of course, the best part of my job is when I get out on site itself, whether I’m meeting one of our farmers to discuss grazing regimes, or running a stakeholder meeting, or helping survey diver rafts miles from civilisation or for tiny dormice on the edge of an access track. 

Protecting and restoring the environment is a responsibility we all share. As a company RWE is committed to protecting the areas where we are active, adhering to strict environmental legislation and even surpassing our obligations in some instances. 

An excellent example of this can be found here in the UK where Kristen and her team play a crucial role in ensuring that our onshore wind farms meet their ecological obligations and contribute to the well-being of local ecosystems.

For almost four years we have supported a PhD student at Clocaenog in delivering a fascinating project on the ecology of the Hazel dormouse. Clocaenog, a commercial conifer plantation, isn’t typically known for supporting dormouse populations due to their preference for native broadleaf habitats. Despite this, dormice have been found here. Charlotte's research involves comparing the diets of Clocaenog's dormice, using fur samples, with those from more 'optimal' habitats to understand how they manage to survive in such environments.

A significant observation made by Charlotte is the dormice's tendency to enter a state of torpor, a kind of mini-hibernation, during periods when they are expected to be active and breed, especially between April and October. This behaviour is more common in colder, wetter conditions, which are prevalent at Clocaenog, leading to a reduced breeding rate among the dormice. Using footprint tunnels, Charlotte has identified three new dormouse areas within Clocaenog, enabling more effective conservation management by Natural Resources Wales and RWE. Read more via the link below.

I think one of my favourite parts of this project has been working with our forest manager and a local farmer who together are carrying out habitat restoration and a grazing regime. I’ve learned so much from these experts who have shared their knowledge regarding the local environment, our HMP at Clocaenog has been a massive success thanks to their commitment and willingness to work together towards a common goal!

Discover the full story of Clocaenog Forest Wind Farm habitat management project, where every decision is a step towards a greener future.

It’s very exciting to think that RWE has made its own voluntary commitments for biodiversity and has established its Biodiversity Country Coordinators Group, a group of experts in the field of ecology sharing best practice and learning from each other’s markets. This has been an amazing community to be a part of. Even though we’re based in various countries in the UK, Ireland, Sweden, continental Europe and even Australia, it’s been wonderful to see the passion, commitment, and progress for nature that exists despite the challenges of logistics and the sheer complexity of the natural world.

I’ve also been very fortunate to work with two graduate students over the past year; it’s been so rewarding for me to see them grow and develop, knowing their current contribution to the global biodiversity crisis is just beginning. And I’ve learned a lot from them too – it’s very reassuring that there are young people like Charlotte and Toby who are so committed to the cause.

Overall, I have a challenging role, but at the end of each day I feel really lucky to be part of making sure RWE's onshore wind farms do their bit for nature and tackling climate change. Afterall, a healthy planet equals healthy communities.