ISO 50001:2018: what has changed since 2011?
ISO 50001:2018 is the current version of the international energy management standard. Compared with the 2011 version, the structure now matches other management standards (the High Level Structure). Leadership and context are anchored more firmly, and energy performance is central instead of just energy consumption. Do you have a system that was built on 2011? Then you do not need to start again, but you do need to supplement it. See what ISO 50001 is for the basics, the requirements per chapter for the full list, and combining ISO 50001 and ISO 14001 for the overlap with other standards.
The transition period has ended. According to the Raad voor Accreditatie (RvA, Dutch Accreditation Council), certificates based on ISO 50001:2011 had to expire or be withdrawn before 21 August 2021. You can therefore only certify against the 2018 version. A certificate against 2011 is no longer valid. See checking your certificate.
What does the High Level Structure mean?
From 2018 onwards, ISO 50001 uses the same structure as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and other management systems. That structure is called the High Level Structure (HLS) or Annex SL. It means the same chapter layout, the same core terms and the same requirements for policy, objectives, documentation, internal audit and management review. If you already have another management system, you will recognise much of the structure.
Chapters 4 to 10 now follow the standard order: context (4), leadership (5), planning (6), support (7), operation (8), evaluation (9) and improvement (10). References in old internal documents therefore no longer match. For example, the energy review was in clause 4.4.3 in 2011 and is now in clause 6.3. The energy policy is now in 5.2.
What has concretely changed?
The table below shows the most important shifts. The exact wording is in the standard itself. Use the table as a summary, not as a replacement for the text.
| Topic | ISO 50001:2011 | ISO 50001:2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Own layout with chapter 4 as the core | High Level Structure, same as other ISO management standards |
| Context | Limited detail | Explicit requirements for external and internal context and interested parties (chapter 4) |
| Leadership | An appointed management representative | Top management takes the lead: policy, resources and integration into processes (chapter 5) |
| Risks and opportunities | Hardly explicit | Risk-based thinking as a common thread, mainly in chapter 6 |
| Energy | Consumption and savings | Focus on energy performance: efficiency, use and consumption together |
| Baseline and EnPIs | Baseline and indicators required | Stricter requirements on normalising and on adjusting the baseline |
| Measurement data | Measurement plan as part of the system | Separate clause 6.6 for planning the collection of energy data |
| Design and procurement | Separate clauses for design and procurement | Remain in place, now grouped in chapter 8 |
| Documentation | Mandatory list of documents | Documented information, more freedom in format |
The table is a summary. For details on the measurement plan and baseline, see the energy data measurement plan, the energy baseline and the energy performance indicators.
What has been added since 2018?
ISO published an amendment in 2024: ISO 50001:2018/Amd 1:2024. It concerns climate action and applies to all ISO management standards. In practice, it means that when you analyse your context, you also check whether climate change is relevant to your energy management system. Read the exact text and the consequences for audits in the standard and ask your certification body.
Example: an office building with a 2011 system
The table below is a fictional example of an insurance company office whose system was set up on ISO 50001:2011. It shows which parts need attention before the office can certify against 2018.
| Component | Situation 2011 | Change for 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Energy policy | Signed by the director, not revised since 2014 | Revised, linked to objectives and leadership |
| Context | Not recorded | List of external requirements, such as tenants and the municipality |
| Risks | Loose list with the energy review | Included in planning and internal audit |
| Documents | Fifteen separate files | Bundled in a system with version control |
| References | Manual refers to clause 4.4.3 | Refers to clause 6.3 |
What does not change?
The core stays the same. You measure your energy performance, determine your significant energy aspects, set an energy baseline and EnPIs, carry out actions and evaluate. The Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle (plan, do, check, adjust) is the same. If you had a working system, you do not need to throw it away. You do need to show that the new requirements have been built in.
Common mistakes when updating
Only renewing the documents. A new policy document without changing the way of working is a formality. The auditor looks at how things are used.
Skipping the context. Many companies do not record their context. Make a short list of the external and internal factors that affect your energy performance. For example: a tenant that requires a certain climate, or a municipality that requires an energy label.
Not linking risks. The standard does not treat risks separately from the rest. Link them to the energy review and to the action plans.
Using old chapter numbers. References in internal manuals must point to the new structure. Otherwise your document points to the wrong section.
What does this mean for certification?
A certifier assesses your system against the 2018 version. Do you still have a system based on 2011 and no valid certificate? Then you carry out a first certification against 2018, with a stage 1 and a stage 2. If you already have a 2018 certificate, the normal cycle of surveillance and recertification follows. Read the audit process to see how the assessment works.
Step-by-step plan for a system based on 2011
If you have a system based on 2011, a fixed order helps. It prevents you from rewriting documents that turn out to be incorrect later.
- Read the 2018 requirements per chapter. Use the table as a guide, but always check the text of the standard itself.
- Make a gap analysis. Compare per clause what you have with what the standard requires. Note per line: present, partly present or missing.
- Record the context. Make a list of the external and internal factors that affect your energy performance, and of the interested parties involved.
- Revise the energy policy. Link the policy to your objectives and to the responsibility of top management. See the energy policy page for the content.
- Link risks and opportunities. Include them in planning and in the internal audit, so they do not stay on a loose list.
- Update documentation and references. Update the chapter numbers and make sure every work instruction refers to the correct section.
- Test the whole with an internal audit. The internal audit is the place to check whether the system works in practice.
- Plan the certification audit. Ask your certifier for the planning of stage 1 and stage 2. See comparing quotes when choosing a certifier.
This order is a working method, not a legal requirement. The certifier decides how your system is assessed.
Frequently asked questions
Is ISO 50001:2011 still valid? No. The 2018 version has replaced it. According to the RvA, certificates based on 2011 had to expire or be withdrawn before 21 August 2021. For new certification, only the 2018 version applies.
Does the version change anything about the EED obligation? The RVO (Netherlands Enterprise Agency) requires an energy management system certified by an accredited body. ISO 50001 is on the list of recognised systems. A certificate based on 2011 has expired and therefore does not count. See the EED obligation 2027.
Can I adjust the system myself? Yes, if you read the standard carefully and make a gap analysis. Many organisations ask an adviser to check the analysis. An adviser who set up your system may not carry out the certification audit themselves. See the page about the auditor.
Where do I start the gap analysis? Start with the requirements per chapter and compare them with your current documents. The step-by-step plan gives the order for implementation.
More information
- ISO 50001 requirements: all clauses
- Energy policy (clause 5.2): what the policy must contain
- Internal audit (clause 9.2): how you test your system
Sources
- ISO 50001:2018 : the official standard, with the 2024 amendment
- RvA, transition from ISO 50001:2011 to ISO 50001:2018 : transition dates for certificates
- NEN - Energy management : Dutch standards, certification and training for energy