| description abstract | Research and development activities related to Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) power systems gained impressive momentum starting from the turn of the millennium, together with the sudden surge of industrial applications. ORC power plants are among the best technologies for the conversion into electricity of renewable thermal energy sources, that is, geothermal reservoirs, biomass combustion, solar radiation, and waste heat recovery. The development of modern ORC power systems started at the end of the 1960s, and the few companies that pioneered this technology are today's market leaders, joined by other major players in the power sector and many enthusiastic startups. It is estimated that as of 2011 the total installed and operational capacity worldwide is approaching 1500 MWe, and the total number of units is approaching 400. | |
