Certification of energy management systems according to ISO 50001
Systematic improvement of energy-related performance
Energy as a resource is one of the biggest cost factors for companies and requires special attention from management.
An energy management system according to DIN EN ISO 50001 is a demonstrably effective instrument for increasing the energy efficiency of companies and thus reducing energy consumption, CO2 emissions and, not least, costs. State benefits and tax refunds, such as the special equalisation scheme (BesAR) under the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) and the successor regulation to the peak equalisation scheme under the SpaEfV, are also linked to the operation of a systematic EnMS in accordance with ISO 50001.
Likewise, § 8 of the EDL-G (Act on Energy Services and Other Energy Efficiency Measures - German implementation of the EU Efficiency Directive) requires, among other things, an EnMS according to ISO 50001 for non-SMEs, even if this does not entail any financial benefits.
As an accredited certification company for ISO 50001, GUTcert has proven itself as a centre of competence for energy management in Germany and beyond in the AFNOR group. Through participation in the German standards committee for EN 16001 and ISO 50001 and years of practical experience from countless audits, we are now pioneers in the energy certification sector.
For whom is ISO 50001 relevant?
The ISO 50001 management system is completely industry-independent. Companies and organisations of all sizes and from all sectors can use it and have it certified - from steelworks to law firms.
However, energy management is particularly important in energy-intensive sectors such as the automotive industry, the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, food production, the energy industry, mechanical and plant engineering, plastics production and processing, and the metal and steel industry.
But the value of such a system should not be underestimated in other sectors either, especially due to increased environmental and climate awareness among business partners right down to the end consumer.
An EnMS certified according to ISO 50001
An EnMS certified according to ISO 50001
- exempts non-SMEs from the obligation to conduct energy audits pursuant to § 8ff. EDL-G
- enables energy-intensive companies to participate in the special equalisation scheme (BesAR)
- enables companies in the manufacturing sector to reduce their electricity tax (peak compensation under the SpaEfV)
- helps to significantly reduce energy costs, increase energy efficiency, reduce energy-related environmental pollution, ensure security of supply and at the same time meet customer requirements
- presents energy consumption and energy flows transparently
For electricity-intensive companies that are in international competition, special regulations apply for the participation in the subsidy costs.
From 2023, some changes will take effect here, which are explained very well in the energy topics blog of the law firm Becker Büttner Held.
There are numerous tax reliefs for electricity, fuel and gas- and oil-based heating fuel, which are subject to taxes in Germany. In special cases, companies in the manufacturing sector receive relief from electricity tax under § 10 StromStG and relief from energy tax under § 55 EnergieStG - the so-called Spitzenausgleich. The tax refund of the Spitzenausgleich can only be made retrospectively and only upon application to the main customs office.
Since 2013, companies have had to prove their contribution to the efficient use of their energy in addition to the previous application requirements. The requirements for this are regulated in the "Ordinance on Systems to Improve Energy Efficiency in Connection with Relief from Energy and Electricity Tax in Special Cases", or "Peak Compensation Efficiency System Ordinance (SpaEfV)".
ISO 50001 in combination with other management systems
It is particularly easy to integrate an EnMS into already existing management systems, such as an environmental management system (EMS) according to ISO 14001 or a quality management system (QMS) according to ISO 9001. Of course, GUTcert also offers combined certification procedures individually tailored to your company.
As part of your cost analysis, you should not neglect to clarify the extent to which you can benefit from the BAFA's energy management system subsidy. We have compiled initial information on the subsidy for you.
In order to be able to estimate the costs of certification for a 3-year cycle, we need site-specific information for your company: Area of activity, number of employees, number of energy sources used, total energy consumption and number of main consumers. This data is recorded in our enquiry form under Request a quote.
How does the certification process work?
The ISO 50001 certification procedure is based on the specifications of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and the specifications of the German Accreditation Body GmbH (DAkkS) for the certification of management systems DIN EN ISO/IEC 17021-1.
Details on the GUTcert certification procedure can be found in the overview of the GUTcert test procedures.
GUTcert Guide Energy and Tools
The guide to efficient energy management according to ISO 50001 enables organisations to introduce an EnMS independently and to map the requirements of the standard. With 18 steps in three stages, it leads to the goal in a comprehensible and practical way and is a solid basis for the certification of a management system according to ISO 50001.
The energy tools of GUTcert offer you further assistance for recording your energy situation, for recording and documenting key figures and for the measurement and verification process.