Nowadays, the global energy market is focusing on setting up an EMS (Energy management system) based on digital tools. The objective is to make ISO 50001 certification procedure easier, to save time, and to monitor, control, and carry out energy-related processes in a transparent climate.
In this article, we’ll bring up the most significant features of an EMS. How to implement it? What is the difference between an EMS and ISO 50001? How can a digital tool helps you to implement an EMS most efficiently?
What is ISO 50001?
Established in 2011, this standard stands for incorporating the PDCA approach and the consistency and complementarity with the ISO 9001 and 14001 standards. Since companies have no control over energy prices, public policies, or the world economy. On the other hand, they can improve their energy management by providing a basis for energy management improvement that represents a good practice of energy management.
ISO 50001 has several objectives that we can divide into two major types
- Framework objectives include ensuring transparency, facilitating communication about energy management, spreading awareness, and assisting companies during the whole procedure of setting up an EMS.
- Operational objectives are all about encouraging organizations to implement an energy monitoring plan as well as energy analysis and setting up an energy policy based on the requirements of the EMS along with recommendations for implementation.
This International Standard applies to activities under the control of the organization. Its implementation may be adapted to the specific requirements of the organization, including the system complexity, level of documentation, and resources.
ISO 50001 and EMS, aren’t they the same?
Process digitization offers many improving aspects for industrial competitiveness, in particular in energy efficiency. The implementation of an Energy Management System (EMS) appears to be one of the most relevant avenues. In fact, we need to distinguish between an EMS and the standard ISO 50001.
An Energy Management System (EMS) is a digital tool used by power system operators to monitor, control, and carry out optimal energy management. Although the international standard ISO 50001 incorporates all the elements of the EN Standard, in particular, the PDCA approach and the consistency and complementarity with the ISO 9001 and 14001 standards.
In the same context, the standard ISO 50001 interferes with the EMS in setting up an energy policy and objectives as well as processes and procedures to achieve these objectives. Companies and public organizations are now heading towards more sustainable energy resources and governments are investing in renewable energies as an alternative to fossil fuels ( oil and gas) and coal.
We must add to this scarcity of fossil fuels, the insecurity of supplies. As global consumption continues to increase, there is an increase in greenhouse gases emitted by the combustion of fossil fuels and therefore a deterioration of the environment that accompanies global warming. Energy has become a major expense item for companies. It became essential for stakeholders to control energy costs.
Taking companies away from their comfort zone, the transition to sustainable energies imposes many challenges in the industry, EMS is the application of ISO 50001 standard.
Helping organizations use existing resources more wisely, establishing conditions of transparency, and facilitating communication on the management of energy resources are the aims of ISO 50001 standard at all types of parties and activity sectors including large companies, local authorities, distributors, tertiary buildings, industry, etc.
Implementing your EMS through ISO 50001 standard:
The purpose of an EMS is to determine power generation or power demands that minimize a certain objective such as generation cost, power loss, or environmental effect. So, to implement an EMS, system organizations need to go through these steps:
1- The regulatory energy audit:
This approach allows you to map the energy consumption of your business. It serves the purpose of identifying your sources of energy savings which is a real factor of competitiveness. This inventory helps you identify the most relevant regulatory or optimization actions to put in place and concretizes your energy performance strategy with the development of a precise and low-cost action plan. Also thanks to a digital EHS/ Quality tool such as BlueKanGo you can take audits to another level by the feature remote audits!
2- Implementing Performance Energy Indicators (PEI) created on the Significant Energy Uses (SEU) of the organization in order to monitor their evolution over time. The implementation of the PEIs can be done directly via the energy management software.
3- Defining the reference energy consumption will make it possible to monitor the improvement of the energy performance.
4- Deployment of a metering plan. Metering and submetering allow companies to have visibility on their consumption. Collecting data is therefore necessary (consumption of water, gas, electricity, etc.).
5- Once this data has been collected, a software solution makes it possible to analyze in real-time the evolution of energy consumption in the building compared to its reference year, to identify consumption peaks and anomalies.
6- Identify the potential for energy savings. This is crucial for the implementation of actions to reduce consumption.
7- Action tracking. Once the energy-saving measures have been identified, an action plan is put in place to implement them. Energy management software makes it possible to plan and manage these actions. In addition, it makes it possible to check the achievement of the expected energy performance improvement objectives by measurement.
Energy management but make it digital!
Setting up an Energy action policy in your company is not possible without the implementation of a digital EMS solution. Having a digital tool for managing energy such as BlueKanGo is necessary. It will help you map the different solutions that exist in the market and to understand energy services.
With a digital solution preparing and passing your ISO 50001 certification will be much more convenient. Thanks to a digital solution that integrates all the elements and the ability to self-assess, you’ll be able to trace your workflows and manage your process's state progress (steering table, indicators,). Speaking of which, having automated audit preparation: audit grids on the web, mobile, or offline (on the ground) will add more to your company’s efficiency.
For each standard criteria, you can combine the different pieces of evidence (audit report, indicators, associated actions). You can also get personalized support to adjust the software to meet your needs and the elements that exist in your business since it’s a customizable tool also it is an easily manageable tool without any coding skills required. Saving you time and effort a software EMS solution will be guaranteed.
Actually, you’ll be able to communicate better with your team as an EHS/Quality manager and allow employees to participate in the documentation process via the electronic report generation, anomaly claims, and electronic signature features.
Zeineb BEN MOHAMED
2 Comments