ORC Power Systems 2025 Program

Preliminary program

You can download the preliminary technical program in PDF format using the button below.
Please note that this version is subject to change following the second round of reviews. Final decisions and updates will be reflected in the final program.
Slots for sponsors and EU project dissemination are not yet included in this version.

Plenary sessions

Keynote session: State of the Art in Supercritical CO2 Power Systems
Dr. Tim Allison, Machinery Department Director at Southwest Research Institute®

Dr. Tim Allison is the Machinery Department Director at Southwest Research Institute® where he leads an organization that focuses on R&D for the energy industry. His research experience includes analysis, fabrication, and testing of turbomachinery and systems for advanced power or oil & gas applications including high-pressure turbomachinery, centrifugal compressors, expanders, gas turbines, reciprocating compressors, and test rigs for bearings, seals, blade dynamics, and aerodynamic performance. Dr. Allison holds two patents, has authored three book chapters and co-edited one book, and has published over 70 articles on various turbomachinery topics. He received the best tutorial/paper awards from the ASME Oil & Gas and Supercritical CO2 Power Cycle Committees in 2010, 2014, 2015, and 2018. He is a past chairman of the ASME Oil & Gas Applications Committee, past and current co-chair for the Thermal-Chemical-Mechanical Energy Storage Workshop, a member of the Supercritical CO2 Symposium Planning Committee, and an Associate Editor for the ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines & Power.

Keynote session: Charge reduction – experiences from the heat pump industry
Prof. Björn Palm, Senior Professor at Division of Applied thermodynamics and refrigeration, Department of Energy Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology

Prof. Björn Palm is senior professor in energy technology at KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, where he for more than 20 years was heading the Division of Applied Thermodynamics and Refrigeration. His research covers components and systems for heat pumps and refrigeration systems, from microstructures of boiling surfaces, to combinations of heat pumps and thermal energy storage for load shifting in the energy system. Publications include two-phase flow in plate heat exchangers and microchannels, nanofluids and enhancement of heat transfer, thermal energy storage, geothermal heat pumps and heat transfer in the ground. A special interest has been the application of natural refrigerants like hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide, but also the use of ammonia in small systems. This has led to investigations of how to design systems with minimum charge of refrigerant. Safety with flammable refrigerants and charge reduction are topics of ongoing research.

Lab tour and company visit

On Thursday 11 September, all participants are welcome to explore ongoing research and industrial development just a short walk from the main venue. 

The visit includes the Laboratory of Fluid Dynamics of LUT University, which has a long-standing focus on fluid dynamics, turbomachinery, and energy conversion technologies. Selected test setups will be shown, including those related to ORC systems, supercritical CO₂ applications, as well as heat pump technology and other areas of turbomachinery and fluid dynamics.

The tour also includes a visit to SpinDrive, a company founded by LUT researchers, which develops magnetic bearing solutions for high-speed rotating machinery. The company continues to collaborate closely with the university.

This short visit offers a quiet look into how research and practical applications are developed side by side.

Technical tour to ORC site in Espoo

On Friday 12 September, registered participants will have the opportunity to visit the Blominmäki Wastewater Treatment Plant in Espoo, a flagship example of sustainable energy use in wastewater treatment.

Commissioned in 2023, the facility features an ORC unit integrated with two 1600 kW biogas engines, recovering waste heat across three temperature levels. This innovative system makes the plant fully self-sufficient in heating and capable of supporting the electricity grid when needed. In its first year, Blominmäki produced nearly 18 GWh of renewable heat and cut CO2 emissions by over 2,000 tons. 

The project received investment support, among others, from Finland’s Työ- ja elinkeinoministeriön (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment) and was recognized as one of the Vuoden Energianerokas 2024 (Energy Genius of the Year 2024) initiatives for its exemplary energy efficiency.

A bus will leave from Lappeenranta at about 08:00 and take participants to the site. After the visit, the bus will continue to Helsinki Airport, arriving before 14:00. More details will be shared in the final program.

Gala dinner

On the evening of Wednesday, 10 September, the conference gala dinner will take place aboard the M/S Camilla, an inland cruise vessel departing from and returning to Lappeenranta Harbor (Satama). 

The evening marks the end of the second day of the technical program, offering a chance to unwind and connect with fellow participants while enjoying Finnish cuisine and the serene beauty of Lake Saimaa. Let’s hope the weather is kind to us for the full experience.

Sauna experience

On the evening of Thursday, 11 September, participants are warmly invited to experience a central part of Finnish culture and national identity: the sauna (/ˈsaʊ.nɑ/, pronounced “SOW-nah”). 

Unlike spa-like saunas found elsewhere, the Finnish sauna is a social space: lively, warm, and welcoming. For participants, it offers a moment to decompress after the intensity of the conference days. And if thermodynamics still lingers in the mind, it can be experienced through the skin in the form of löyly (/ˈløy.ly/, pronounced “LØØ-loo”), the wave of heat and steam created by throwing water on the stove. For those seeking the full experience, a cooling breeze on the terrace or a dip in the lake await just outside.

The sauna evening will take place at Vierula and at LUT Rantasauna, two lakeside saunas just a short walk from the main venue. In both facilities, there are separate saunas, showers, and changing areas for men and women, along with shared lounge spaces, a terrace, and a jetty. All participants are kindly asked to wear swimsuits in the saunas and shared areas. Please remember to pack one with you!