Assessing biodiversity risks and impacts for IFC PS6 alignment with Kipeto Energy PLC

Vision Statement

Kipeto Energy PLC is the developer of the Kipeto Wind Power Project (‘Kipeto’) in Kajiado County, Kenya, which generates 100 MW of renewable energy, making it the second-largest wind farm in the country. The project supports Kenya's Vision 2030 by supplying clean energy to the national grid through a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement with Kenya Power. Beyond energy generation, Kipeto Energy is committed to environmental stewardship, implementing a Biodiversity Action Plan to mitigate impacts on local wildlife, particularly vultures. Their vision is to contribute to Kenya's sustainable development goals while promoting biodiversity conservation. 

Project purpose – project alignment with IFC PS6 for No Net Loss and Net Gain 

Kipeto aims to meet global sustainability standards, particularly International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standard 6 (PS6) which requires companies to identify and manage biodiversity-related risks and impacts, with the goal of protecting and enhancing biodiversity, especially in areas with high conservation value. This includes ensuring that projects avoid or minimise harm to Critical Habitats, implement measures to offset residual impacts, and achieve a Net Gain for critical habitat-qualifying features and No Net Loss of Natural Habitat where possible. 

A key challenge for Kipeto was managing the biodiversity impacts on critically endangered vulture species and raptors. The client sought The Biodiversity Consultancy’s expertise to develop strategies for achieving Net Gain in biodiversity, ensuring compliance with IFC PS6 requirements, and effectively mitigating potential impacts on local wildlife. 

Challenge – achieving net gain for critically endangered vultures 

During project development, national stakeholders identified that Kipeto was in an area of particular sensitivity for two Critically Endangered vulture species: Rüppell’s Vulture Gyps rueppellii and White-backed Vulture G. africanus. Subsequent targeted surveys for these species over 12 months, planned, initially led, and then coordinated by our team, confirmed this to be the case, and quantified the presence and activity of these two species at site. Our team then used this information to evaluate a range of mitigation and compensation options to demonstrate that the project could deliver a Net Gain for these two vultures in line with IFC PS6.   

Our support – targeted mitigation and offset approach for vulture species 

Since 2018, The Biodiversity Consultancy has worked with Kipeto to implement the biodiversity conservation actions identified in the initial feasibility study. These actions were developed with the active support and involvement of national stakeholders and local communities, ensuring that the measures were both effective and sustainable. 

Minimisation: 

To reduce the risk to at-risk bird species, Kipeto has implemented an observer-led shut-down-on-demand, which halts turbine operations when priority birds are detected which are at risk of collision.  Additionally, Kipeto follows a protocol for the swift identification and removal of animal carcasses, which helps prevent vultures from being attracted to the area and so reduces their exposure to collision risk. While reducing biodiversity risk, these mitigation actions have also created employment opportunities, with over half of the staff involved coming from local communities, which has fostered widespread community support for the project. 

Offset measures: 

Offsetting efforts focus on addressing human-wildlife conflict and retaliatory poisoning — one of the most significant threats to vultures in southern Kenya. These initiatives include training rangers in poison response procedures, improving bomas to reduce livestock predation and community outreach, and are implemented by conservation NGOs and the Kenya Wildlife Service. To ensure effectiveness and long-term sustainability,  a multi-stakeholder Biodiversity Committee oversees all activities to ensure these will meet Kipeto’s long-term biodiversity and community goals.  Kipeto also supports the management of an adjacent wildlife conservancy, where efforts focus on minimizing impacts to White-back vultures and other raptors through ranger training and alternative livelihood support to local communities. This collaboration with key stakeholders not only aids in protecting biodiversity but also supports the local communities.  

Outcome – feasibility of net gain: protecting vultures, securing financing, and advancing sustainability 

The Biodiversity Consultancy’s initial involvement demonstrated the feasibility of achieving Net Gain for the Kipeto Wind Power Project, showing that the project could operate while ensuring the conservation of critically endangered vulture species, and this was essential in securing essential lender financing. TBC continues to provide expert support to Kipeto staff to ensure their ongoing compliance with biodiversity objectives and supporting the long-term success of Kipeto. 

Energy generation loss due to implementing shut-down averaged c. 1600 kWh per month in the first 8 months of operation and since the commencement of operations only one vulture fatality has been recorded, providing strong evidence that shut-down-on-demand system is an extremely effective minimisation measure. Additionally, tThe anti-poaching programs implemented by Nature Kenya has trained over 500 rangers and other relevant agency staff in how to respond to poisoning instances. These teams, along with vulture scouts have successfully prevented the deaths of many vultures at poisoned carcasses.  

Through these actions, Kipeto is fulfilling its commitment to achieving a Net Gain for these two vulture species, while also benefiting multiple other raptors and migratory soaring birds present at the project.  

Additional note: 

The biodiversity risk management and stakeholder engagement project have been recognised internationally and reported in the Financial Times and Medium.