June 15, 2011 saw the long awaited publication of the international standard for energy management. Unusually for an ISO standard its publication was ahead of schedule. (In the spring of 2011 the project publication date was the fall of 2011). In this white paper we examine the background to the development of the standard; we look at what it can deliver, its impact and uptake and its relationship with other standards and systems. This is a high level review and does not look at the detail of implementing ISO 50001.

ISO 50001 is an international standard that can and will be applied anywhere in the world. In some jurisdictions it will replace existing standards. For example, in Europe it will replace EN16001 – this was published in 2009 and was drafted in such a way to be compatible with the expected ISO standard. Some observers consider that the EU ‘fast tracked’ 16001 in order to influence the format of 50001. In other jurisdictions it will be the new kid on the block and for the first time provide a formal, systemized set of ‘rules’ for energy management.