ISO 50001 is the international standard for energy management. It defines how an organisation establishes, operates and continually improves an energy management system (EnMS) so that energy use is managed systematically.

What does ISO 50001 require?

• An energy policy and top management commitment
• An energy review that identifies significant energy uses (SEUs)
• Energy performance indicators (EnPIs) and energy baselines (EnBs)
• Targets, action plans and follow-up
• Documentation, internal audits and continual improvement through the PDCA cycle

Certification and audits

Certification applies to the organisation’s energy management system, not to the software it uses. A certified organisation undergoes annual surveillance audits and recertification every three years. The rules for certification bodies are set out in ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO 50003.

When is ISO 50001 required?

Under the recast EU Energy Efficiency Directive, companies with an average annual energy consumption above 85 TJ must implement a certified energy management system. ISO 50001 is the most common way to meet that requirement. In Denmark, the deadline is 1 August 2026.

Is there approved software for ISO 50001?

Software is not certified under ISO 50001 itself. In Germany, however, software can be approved by the federal authority BAFA. Enity EMS is BAFA-listed and certified for energy management in Germany.

How Enity EMS supports ISO 50001

Enity EMS supports data collection and monitoring, energy performance analysis, EnPIs and baselines, targets, action plans and audit documentation. Coop, for example, uses Enity EMS in Denmark’s largest energy management system in retail, with data from 700 buildings and 9,300 meters.

Related terms

• Energy management
• Energy audits
• Data validation

See it in action

Want to see how Enity EMS supports your ISO 50001 work? Book a demo and we will show you how it works with your own data.