ISO 50001

What is ISO 50001?

ISO 50001 is an international standard for energy management systems (EnMS) that provides a framework for organisations to establish, implement, maintain, and improve energy management practices. It helps organisations optimise energy use, identify efficiency opportunities, and meet environmental and carbon reduction targets. The standard was first introduced in 2011 following a request by the UNIDO in 2007, and the latest version was released in 2018 with the harmonised structure that is consistent with the other management systems standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, and hence it enhances the integrability of these frameworks within the same organisation.

ISO 50001 is indeed based on the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle. This cycle, also known as the Deming cycle, is a structured approach for continuous improvement that’s fundamental to the ISO 50001 standard.

New Zealand and worldwide…

As of January 2024, ISO reports about 25,000 valid ISO 50001 certifications worldwide, with European nations leading in adoption. More than 30% of the cases are associated with Germany. The German government initiated Green tax breaks and subsidies for companies that implement the Energy Management System, and later allowed them to access the renewable funds should they had been granted the certificate of ISO 50001.

In contrast, Australia and New Zealand together hold only 15 certifications—14 in Australia and only 1 in New Zealand, achieved in 2021.

This limited uptake may stem from weak policy incentives, a shortage of local expertise, and low awareness among business leaders about the standard’s advantages in these two countries. We believe the values of an energy management system have been underestimated in some countries, and the core concept of the standard on low-cost/no-cost measures to save energy has been overlooked.

How we can help you

PathWay2050 helps businesses in their journey of decarbonisation. The global standard of ISO50001 is a robust yet very cost-effective tool to help businesses and organisations reduce their energy usage (scope 1, 2 of the GHG inventory according to ISO14064). We are specialists in this standard with delivering the first certificate in Aotearoa that led to the certification by the British Standard Institute. 

There is more to read about this achievement. The services we provide include, but are not limited to:

• Training, seminar, webinar to your key staff and personnel who impact on energy usage in your organisation. Our training are both offered in-person and online upon your request and convenience. Our trainer is a certified instructor by CEP and BSI group with experience of delivering the training courses acros a variety of sectors and countries.
• Gap analysis and assessment are the first steps for most organisations that wants to know more about the applicability of the implementation of Energy Management Systems in line with ISO50001. We use the guidelines provided by ISO50005 to assess your readiness and how you may adapt the new changes across people and processes to mitigate the risks of implementation.
• Implementation and Documentation are the key components of an EnMS and we can help your business fully implement and maintain the system using ISO50004, which provides guidelines for implementation. We also help you set up a robust and efficient online documentation system, which comes very useful when auditing the Energy Management Systems.
• Internal Audit is a requirement by ISO50001. If you already have a system put in place, we have a qualified auditor who can help you audit your system and also arrange you the external audits via the certification bodies if you wish to achieve the certificate.

Feel free to reach out to us at info@pathway2050.com if you have any inquiries or need us to advise to your business about the right steps to get into this journey.