History

• In the 1970s, Ormat expanded its technology and expertise in the Remote Power Unit (RPU) sector, providing RPUs for clients requiring reliable power generation in remote operating conditions. One of Ormat’s first RPU clients was the Trans-Alaska Pipeline project.

• In the 1980s and throughout the 1990s, Ormat focused its growing renewable energy expertise on the geothermal industry. We developed Wabuska, a 2 MW geothermal power plant in Nevada, USA; our very first geothermal facility. This was followed in rapid succession by a series of major geothermal power plant acquisitions and developments, largely concentrated in Nevada and California, USA, which vaulted Ormat into the position of that country’s second largest geothermal power producer. The Integrated Two-Level Unit (ITLU) was a vital development in maximizing the thermodynamic efficiencies of lower-temperature resources. The patented ITLU design revolutionized the industry and, to this day, separates Ormat from the rest.

• In 1982, Ormat developed the Solar Pond Power Plant – an experimental project to pilot the development of solar energy production.
• Throughout the 1980s, Ormat developed its state-of-the-art Recovered Energy Generation (REG) power plant solutions, which utilize waste heat to create power, fully exploiting the energy potential found in different industrial processes, or gas compressor stations – converting unused heat into clean, emission-free, fuel-free electricity.

• The 1990s were focused on positioning ourselves as a developer of geothermal power plants through technological advancement and continued supply of equipment worldwide. The first development was the 50 MW Leyte Optimization project in the Philippines under a BOT for 10 years starting in 1998. The inception of the Olkaria III complex with the 8 MW early generation in Kenya was the first stage in what is now a 140 MW complex.

• In the 2000s we continued to grow in geothermal through the acquisition of geothermal assets in the US, increasing the total plants sold and reaching a total of 1300 MW in plants sold in 2010.
• In 2004, Ormat completed an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange (ORA). Headquartered in Reno, Nevada, this transition to a public company enabled continued growth, expansion of our capabilities and the opportunity to participate in a wider variety of global power projects.

• In 2006, Ormat entered Turkey, delivering our first geothermal power plant, the DORA 1, with a capacity of 7.4 MW. Turkey is one of the world’s fastest growing geothermal energy markets and our presence here has grown significantly, with 900 MW of capacity across over 40 geothermal power plants now operating in the country. This is more than half of Turkey’s total geothermal operating capacity.

• Ormat’s leadership in the Recovered Energy Generation business expanded with the completion of the OREG project along the US Northern Border natural gas pipeline. From 2006 through 2009, Ormat built and installed a series of REG power plants that convert waste heat from gas turbine compressors into electricity, delivering 53 MW of generating capacity.

• In 2013, the world’s largest single binary geothermal power plant – the Ngatamariki in New Zealand – began commercial operations.  Ormat provided the engineering, procurement and construction for the 100 MW geothermal project that delivers sustainable energy to power 80,000 homes annually.

In 2017, Honduras’ first utility-scale geothermal facility – the 35 MW Platanares power plant – was commissioned for commercial operation.  Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández participated in the official opening ceremonies in September and reiterated the country’s goal of generating 80 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2032.

• In May 2018, Ormat announced that NIL 2, the third unit of the Sarulla geothermal power plant in North Sumatra, Indonesia, began commercial operation, bringing the three-facility complex to its full capacity of 330 MW.  This places Sarulla among the world’s largest geothermal power plants.  Each of the three 110 MW units uses both steam and brine from the geothermal resource to optimize power plant efficiency.  The facility’s other two units began operating in March and October 2017 respectively.

• Kenya’s Olkaria III complex is a prime example of Ormat’s strategic, well-coordinated approach to maximizing the value of geothermal resources. In 2018, Ormat commissioned the latest addition to this geothermal power plant, vaulting its capacity to 150 MW. The complex’s first 8 MW facility started up in 2000 and over 18 years, Ormat continued to expand Olkaria III, adding new plants and building capacity.