ISO 50001: Energy Management Certification

• Obtain the standard:

Get a licensed copy of the relevant standard and familiarize yourself with the requirements to decide if certification/registration to this standard makes good sense for your organization.

• Review available literature and apply digital tools

Explore available literature, guidelines from the standard owners (e.g. ISO/TS 9002 for ISO 9001, ISO 14004 for ISO 14001)   and digital sources and tools that can assist with implementation. Note that as a DNV customer you get access to tailored tools that can assist you.

• Assemble a team and define strategy:

To implement a management system should be a strategic decision for the entire organization. Senior management must be involved in the decision, committed and involved in shaping the system. They decide the business strategy the management system should support. In addition, you need a dedicated team to develop and implement your management system.

• Determine competence needs:

First, your team implementing and maintaining the management system needs a thorough understanding of the chosen standards. Later on, the wider organization needs awareness training. DNV offers a variety of public and in-house courses worldwide that meets your competence training needs at all levels within your organization.

• Review consultant options:

Independent consultants can advise on a workable, realistic, and cost-effective strategy plan for implementation if you do not have this competence or capacity already.

• Develop management system documentation: 

Decide on an appropriate platform for your documented information (e.g. software, process map- or SharePoint-based). The right platform is important to ensure effective management, communication and implementation.

• Determine, manage and document processes:

First identify key processes – what they are, how they work, and how they interact. Each process should have a clear purpose, defined responsibilities, and expected outputs. The level of documented information needed depends on the organization’s size, complexity, and the importance of each process, but must include relevant processes and other documented information needed to deliver on intended outcomes and comply with the chosen standard’s requirements.

• Implement management system:

Clear communication and necessary competence training are essential elements. During the implementation phase, you will work to ensure that your organization is working according to defined and documented processes. Once successful, you can prove system’s compliance and effectiveness.

• Select a certification body/registrar:

Selecting the right certification body/registrar can make a difference throughout your certification journey. DNV offers a trusted partnership approach, a risk-based approach and range of free digital tools that help you manage your certification journey before, during and after the audit.

• Consider a pre-audit gap analysis:

Consider a preliminary evaluation by your certification body/registrar to identify and correct nonconformities before starting the official certification process. The purpose is to identify areas of non-conformance or weaknesses, allowing you to correct these before you begin the official certification process.

ISO 50001 is a voluntary international standard for energy management systems (EMS). It provides organizations of any size or sector with a structured approach to manage energy use and consumption. The ISO 50001 standard requirements support a company in establishing an energy policy, identify significant energy uses and implement an action plan to improve performance. The standard offers a structured approach to embed effective energy management and continually improve across the organization. Built on the ISO Harmonized Structure (HS), it can easily be interested with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

An energy management system based on the ISO 50001 standard helps organizations take a structured approach to understand, manage and improve their energy performance. A well-implemented energy management system helps organizations monitor and analyse energy data, assign clear roles and responsibilities, and integrate energy considerations into daily operations and long‑term planning.

To be certified to ISO 50001, an organization must first implement an energy management system that meets the requirements of the standard and then pass the audit performed by an independent, accredited certification body such as DNV.  If the management system is found compliant, a certificate is issued. The company is required to undergo and pass periodic audits annually and be re-certified every 3 years to maintain their certification.