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Certified energy management according to ISO 50001

ISO 50001: Certified energy management system

There are many good reasons to pay attention to your company's energy efficiency. From a global perspective, it helps with the urgently needed reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. But a certified energy management system in accordance with DIN EN ISO 50001 also has advantages in terms of your company's profitability.

This is because a certified energy management system in accordance with ISO 50001 supports you in the continuous improvement of your energy-related performance, i.e. in the improvement of energy efficiency, energy use and energy consumption.

The energy management system also supports you in increasing your competitiveness and reducing energy costs. It also enhances your public image.

An Integrated Management System (IMS) integrates a company's quality, environment, energy, occupational health and safety management systems into a unified framework, promoting standardized operating practices, improving efficiency and transparency, and delivering multiple benefits:

An energy management system in accordance with ISO 50001 is the ideal basis for companies of all sizes, both nationally and internationally, to demonstrate their expertise and performance. A key advantage is that the standard can be implemented across all sectors - both for production companies and service providers.

ISO 50001: Your advantages at a glance

  • Your company systematically examines its energy-related performance and recognises and exploits potential energy savings
  • You sensitise your employees and suppliers to the sustainable use of energy resources
  • You save costs by reducing energy consumption
  • You conserve resources and support the general climate protection goals by reducing your CO2 emissions
  • You increase your competitiveness
  • As a manufacturing company, you benefit from the limitation of the KWKG levy or the offshore grid levy as part of the "special equalisation scheme" (Section 28 ff EnFG)
  • If you operate in a sector or sub-sector of the EU ETS that is eligible for aid, you can apply for aid for indirect CO2 costs in accordance with the Carbon Leakage Regulation (BECV) and the Electricity Price Compensation (SPK) Funding Directive
  • You are exempt from energy audits in accordance with DIN EN 16247-1
  • Your public image is positively reinforced

The Plan-Do-Check-Act model as the basis for your energy management system in accordance with ISO 50001

ISO 50001 is based on the "Plan-Do-Check-Act" model. This is divided into four phases and is to be understood as a continuous improvement process. The continuous improvement process is intended to prevent stagnation and ensure that companies adapt to changing situations in good time and realise new savings potential.


Plan: Firstly, an energy assessment is carried out: the initial energy situation is determined, energy performance indicators are defined (EnPIs), energy targets and policies as well as action plans are drawn up.

Do: The Do phase involves the introduction and initial implementation of the energy management system (EnMS). In addition to the creation of structures, this includes, for example, the establishment of communication and documentation processes and the training of employees. They must demonstrate both technical and energy awareness competences.

Check: The check phase focuses on monitoring, measuring and analysing energy-related performance. This phase concludes with a management review. Improvements are then made: measures are finalised, modified or permanently implemented.

Act: In the Act phase, new measures for the continuous improvement of energy-related performance and the EnMS are finally decided. Corrections may also need to be made, e.g. to the energy targets, the EnPIs, the baselines or the energy policy.

Change in accreditation

The German National Accreditation Board (DAkkS) is converting the certification qualification of TÜV NORD CERT GmbH (TN CERT) to the internationally recognised standard DIN ISO 50003:2022 as of 2 August 2023.

The changeover will involve adjustments to the calculation rules, audit processes and document management requirements, but the validity of your main certificate and sub-certificates will not be affected and the content of your certificate will remain unchanged.

For existing customers, the new calculation rules will only be effective for the next re-certification; however, the changes to the audit execution requirements and document management specification will apply immediately, i.e. will be mandatory for the next audit in the current certification cycle.

For new customers, the revised calculation rules and audit/document management requirements are effective immediately from the date of application.

We have summarized the key changes below:

Optimisation of weight allocation for calculation-related parameters (calculation session)

Determination of energy type introduction of energy type determination using Pareto-square analysis (customer questionnaire)

Consideration of external electricity consumption points and unattended location premises to be taken into account (customer questionnaire)

 

Audit a sample of primary raw data sources (e.g., energy bills) (e.g., energy bills)

Determine the time required to audit the primary source of primary data Audit length assessment (to be included in the audit plan)

Presentation of energy consumption by energy type and location Presentation of consumption by energy type and location vs. place classification (audit report requirement)

 

The on-site audit must not take less than 80 per cent of the total calculated time (previously 70 per cent).

Preparation and follow-up should not take more than 20 per cent of the total calculated time.

The implementation of energy performance improvement measures has to be verified during a surveillance audit.

Substantial improvements in energy performance based on Energy Performance Indicators (EnPIs) are to be quantitatively demonstrated during recertification audits.

 

Multiple sites can be considered as a single site for certification if they are geographically close to each other and the following conditions are met:

The number of effective personnel covered by the Energy Management System (EnMS), the type of energy, the amount of energy consumed and the number of Significant Energy Uses (SEUs) are summarised as a whole.

The audit process for ISO 50001 certification

1

Step 1

Enquiry, quotation preparation and clarification

2

Step 2

Delegation and personalised scheduling

3

Step 3

Audit: Understanding the organisation and determining readiness for certification

4

Step 4

Identify potential for improvement

5

Step 5

Fast double checking and certificate generation

6

Step 6

Issuance of TÜV certificates

7

Step 7

Continuous optimisation of management systems and competitiveness

Integrated Management System (IMS): Significance and Advantages

An integrated management system (IMS) integrates a company's various management systems, including those for quality, environment, energy, and occupational health and safety, into a unified framework. This promotes standardized operating practices, improves efficiency and transparency, and offers multiple benefits:

  • Improved efficiency: Interconnected processes avoid duplication of work and enable more targeted resource utilization.
  • Reduced costs: Streamlining redundant processes leads to financial benefits.
  • Clearer responsibilities: Clear division of responsibilities provides clear guidance for employees.
  • Audit collaboration: Similar requirements can be consolidated for audit, optimizing resource allocation.
  • Enhanced employee motivation: Transparent management and clear goals foster greater commitment and engagement.
  • Customer and partner trust: Certification demonstrates expertise and reliability.
  • Flexibility and adaptability: Rapidly respond to new requirements and maintain dynamic system optimization.
  • Enhanced decision support: Centralized data collection provides a reliable basis for strategic decision-making.


An integrated manufacturing system (IMS) can improve efficiency, reduce costs, enhance transparency and collaboration, and help meet legal requirements. The key to success lies in careful planning and implementation, with the High-Level Structure (HLS) serving as a core foundation to facilitate the integration of various standards.
IMS helps businesses more effectively meet their legal obligations by improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing transparency and collaboration. The key to successful implementation lies in careful planning and execution, with the High-Level Structure (HLS) serving as the core framework to achieve seamless integration of various standards.

Frequently asked questions

ISO 50001 FAQ

ISO 50001 is an internationally accepted standard for energy management systems, which specifies the requirements for organisations or enterprises to establish energy management systems. It aims to help enterprises improve energy efficiency through scientific and systematic management methods.

In principle, the standard is not mandatory certification, the establishment of energy management systems is voluntary.

In principle, the standard certification is not mandatory, enterprises can voluntarily introduce energy management system.

The German Accreditation Body (DAkkS) defines the escalation workload for standard conversions as follows:

The German National Accreditation Body (DAkkS) defines the escalation audit workload for standards conversion as follows:

Re-certification audits: 10% more, but the on-site audit time shall not be less than 2 hours.

  • Re-certification audit: 10% more than the original audit duration, but with an on-site audit time of not less than 2 hours;

Supervisory audit: an increase of 20%, but the on-site audit time of not less than 4 hours

  • Supervisory audit: increase 20% on the basis of the original audit length, and on-site audit time of not less than 4 hours.

Similar to the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards, ISO 50001 introduces a so-called high-level structure. This ensures standardisation of the naming and numbering of the standard's chapters, as well as uniformity of definitions.

Similar to the revisions to the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards, ISO 50001 introduces the so-called High Level Structure. This revision ensures that the naming and numbering of the standard's sections is standardised, as well as the definitions of terms.

Organisations must identify internal and external influences related to the energy management system that may have a positive or negative impact on the organisation.

In the future, the organisation must identify and define the stakeholders and their requirements and expectations related to its energy management system.

The organisation must address the existing and potential opportunities and risks associated with the energy management system and plan its activities accordingly.

Organisations need to assess existing and potential risks and opportunities for their energy management system and plan measures accordingly.

DIN EN ISO 50001 emphasises more than ever the responsibility of management in establishing and operating an energy management system.

The methodological requirements for monitoring, measuring and analysing energy-related performance have increased.

The methodological requirements of the standard have increased significantly with regard to monitoring, measuring and analysing energy performance

According to Article 8 et seq. of the Energy Services Act (EDL-G), all Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) that do not fulfil the definition of the European Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC are obliged to carry out energy audits in accordance with DIN EN 16247-1 at least once every four years. Companies are exempt from this obligation if they have implemented a certified energy management system in accordance with ISO 50001.

Affected "non-SMEs" include the following companies:

- businesses with ≥250 employees; or

- Businesses with an annual turnover of > €50 million; or

- with an annual balance sheet total of > €43 million.

Note that when classifying SMEs and non-SMEs, associated enterprises must also be taken into account. Detailed information on the definition of SMEs can be found in the European Commission guidelines.

Note: Associated enterprises are included in the harmonised calculation when determining whether an enterprise is an SME. The EC Guidelines provide a detailed description of the definition of SMEs.

For more information on how to set up an energy management system based on an energy audit and how to identify and assess energy saving potentials, see the Bundesamt für Entwicklungsforschung (Federal Environment Agency) guide "Energy Management Systems in Practice", which can be found in the "Energy Management Systems in Practice" published by the German Federal Environment Agency.

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