Ormat (ORA) 8-K Ormat Technologies Reports Record Fourth Quarter 2008 and Year-end Results

Exhibit 99.1

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
Ormat Technologies Contact:	Investor Relations Contact
Dita Bronicki	Todd Fromer / Marybeth Csaby
CEO	KCSA Strategic Communications
775-356-9029	212-896-1215 / 212-896-1236
dbronicki@ormat.com	tfromer@kcsa.com / mcsaby@kcsa.com

ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES REPORTS RECORD FOURTH QUARTER 2008 AND YEAR-END
RESULTS

RENO, Nevada, February 24, 2009— Ormat Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: ORA) today announced results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2008.

Highlights of the company performance include:

• Revenues increased 35.2% for the quarter to $95.5 million and 16.5% for the year to $344.8 million.

• Net income increased 31.3% to $11.7 million in the quarter and 82.0% to $49.8 million for the year.

• Earnings per share increased 18.2 % to $0.26 in the quarter and 60% to $1.12 for the year.

• Product backlog reached a record high of $194.0 million.

• Ormat-owned generating capacity increased by 109 MW, an increase of over 25% during 2008.

Commenting on the results, Dita Bronicki, Chief Executive Officer of Ormat, stated: “It was a good year and quarter for Ormat, as reflected in our financial results. The fundamental business of the Company is in excellent condition and the benefits of the new Stimulus Act will further improve our future results. We substantially grew and improved the profitability of our Electricity and Products Segments, significantly increased the generating capacity in our Electricity Segment and ended the year with a record backlog in the Products Segment.

In our Electricity Segment, we have substantially completed the construction of several projects that have increased our generating portfolio by 109 MW to 505 MW. This organic growth includes:

• phase II of the Olkaria III project in Kenya, which was completed during the fourth quarter of 2008 and is now in commercial operation;

• the 50 MW North Brawley project, which reached the start up phase and will ramp up gradually with full capacity expected in the second quarter of 2009;

• 18 MW in 2 different geothermal projects; and

• 5.5 MW in the first of four OREG 2 recovered energy generation (REG) projects.”

Ms. Bronicki continued, “Looking ahead to 2009, in our Electricity Segment we expect to add approximately 34 MW to our generating portfolio. We had hoped to complete the 30 MW East Brawley project in 2009, but this project has been pushed back to 2010 due to permitting delays.”

“In support of future growth we have added 150,000 acres of new leases to our development inventory during 2008, a large acreage for future exploration activity. We have in place the capital resources to fund our CapEx requirement of about $250 million for our present growth plans in 2009”, Ms. Bronicki concluded.

Electricity revenues for the fourth quarter of 2008 were $62.1 million, an increase of 11.8%, compared to $55.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2007. The increase in electricity revenues is primarily attributable to a net increase in domestic electricity generation to 645,826 MWh for the quarter, up from 533,110 MWh in the same period of 2007 as a result of new plants coming on line and enhanced performance of existing plants. In addition, increased energy rates at the Puna project due to higher oil prices also helped boost electricity revenues. Current lower oil prices will reduce our revenues from the Puna project in 2009.

Revenues from the Products Segment for the three-month period ended December 31, 2008 were $33.4 million, compared to $15.1 million in the same period in 2007, an increase of 120.9%. Most of the increase in revenues was derived from two large geothermal projects, the Blue Mountain project in Nevada and the Centennial Binary Plant in New Zealand.

Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2008 was $31.5 million, compared to $25.2 million in the same quarter last year. Adjusted EBITDA includes operating income and depreciation and amortization totaling $1.3 million and $2.0 million for the quarters ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, related to the Company’s unconsolidated investments. The reconciliation of GAAP net income to Adjusted EBITDA is set forth below in this release.

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of December 31, 2008 decreased to $34.4 million from $60.7 million as of December 31, 2007. In addition, we have unutilized committed bank lines of credits aggregating $222.5 million.

On February 24, 2009, Ormat’s Board of Directors approved the payment of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per share pursuant to the Company’s dividend policy, which targets an annual payout ratio of at least 20% of the Company’s net income, subject to Board approval. The dividend will be paid on March 26, 2009, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 16, 2009. The Company expects to pay a dividend of $0.06 per share in the next three quarters, compared to $0.05 per quarter in 2008.

Annual Results

For the year ended December 31, 2008, total revenues were $344.8 million, an increase of 16.5% from $296.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $49.8 million, or $1.12 per share (diluted), compared to $27.4 million, or $0.70 per share (diluted), for the year ended December 31, 2007. There were 44.3 million weighted average shares used in the computation of diluted earnings per share in the year ended December 31, 2008 and 38.9 million weighted average shares in the year ended December 31, 2007.

Electricity Segment revenues for the year ended December 31, 2008, were $252.3 million, an increase of 16.8% from $216.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. Products Segment revenues for the year ended December 31, 2008 were $92.6 million, an increase of 15.8% from $80.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2007.

For the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company’s gross margin was 29.6%, compared to 26.8% for the year ended December 31, 2007. Operating income for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $60.6 million, compared with $43.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2007, an increase of 39.5%. The

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increase in operating income is primarily attributable to increased revenues in both our Electricity and Products Segments as well as increased gross margins.

Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2008, was $124.7 million dollars, compared to $107.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. Adjusted EBITDA includes consolidated EBITDA and the Company’s share in the operating income and depreciation and amortization totaling $5.4 million and $14.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, related to the Company’s unconsolidated investments.

Commenting on the outlook for 2009, Ms. Bronicki said, “We expect our 2009 Electricity Segment revenues to be between $280 million and $290 million. We also expect an additional $9 million of revenues from our share of electricity revenue generated by a subsidiary, which is accounted for under the equity method. With regard to our Products Segment, we expect that our 2009 revenues will be between $100 million and $120 million.”

Conference Call Details

Ormat will host a conference call to discuss its financial results and other matters discussed in this press release at 10:00 a.m. U.S. EST. on Wednesday, February 25, 2009. The call will be available as a live, listen-only webcast at www.ormat.com. During the webcast, management will refer to slides that will be posted on the web site. The slides and accompanying webcast can be accessed through the Event Calendar in the Investor Relations section of Ormat’s website.

A 30-day archive of the webcast will be available approximately 2 hours after the conclusion of the live call. A replay will be available from 12:00 p.m. EST on February 25, 2009 through 11:59 p.m. EST, March 1, 2009. Please call: (800) 642-1687 (U.S. and Canada) or (706) 645-9291 (International) and enter the code 82882042.

About Ormat Technologies

Ormat Technologies, Inc. is the only vertically-integrated company primarily engaged in the geothermal and recovered energy power business. The Company designs, develops, owns and operates geothermal and recovered energy-based power plants around the world. Additionally, the Company designs, manufactures and sells geothermal and recovered energy power units and other power-generating equipment, and provides related services. The Company has more than four decades of experience in the development of environmentally-sound power, primarily in geothermal and recovered-energy generation. Ormat products and systems are covered by more than 75 patents. Ormat currently operates the following geothermal and recovered energy-based power plants: in the United States — Brady, Heber, Mammoth, Ormesa, Puna, Steamboat and OREG 1; in Guatemala — Zunil and Amatitlan; in Kenya — Olkaria; in Nicaragua – Momotombo; and in New Zealand — GDL.

Ormat’s Safe Harbor Statement

Information provided in this press release may contain statements relating to current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about future events that are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally relate to Ormat’s plans, objectives and expectations for future operations and are based upon its management’s current estimates and projections of future results or trends. Actual future results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, see “Risk Factors” as described in Ormat Technologies, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 5, 2008 and on Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 6, 2008.

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Ormat Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the Three and Twelve-months periods Ended December 31, 2008 and 2007
(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended December 31,						Year Ended December 31,
	2008			2007			2008			2007
	(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Revenues:
Electricity	$	62,126		$	55,545		$	252,256		$	215,969
Products		33,373			15,108			92,577			79,950
Total revenues		95,499			70,653			344,833			295,919
Cost of revenues:
Electricity		45,129			38,193			170,053			148,698
Products		25,271			12,852			72,755			68,036
Total cost of revenues		70,400			51,045			242,808			216,734
Gross margin		25,099			19,608			102,025			79,185
Operating expenses:
Research and development expenses		1,220			946			4,595			3,663
Selling and marketing expenses		2,699			2,794			10,885			10,645
General and administrative expenses		6,399			5,528			25,938			21,416
Operating income		14,781			10,340			60,607			43,461
Other income (expense):
Interest income		383			2,358			3,118			6,565
Interest expense		(348	)		(5,147	)		(7,677	)		(26,983	)
Foreign currency translation and transaction losses		(5,151	)		(568	)		(7,721	)		(1,339	)
Impairment of auction rate securities		(1,822	)		(2,020	)		(4,195	)		(2,020	)
Other non-operating income		443			295			771			890
Income before income taxes, minority interest, and equity in income of investees		8,286			5,258			44,903			20,574
Income tax provision (benefit)		(91	)		475			(7,962	)		(1,822	)
Minority interest		3,095			2,297			11,166			3,882
Equity in income of investees		406			878			1,725			4,742
Net income	$	11,696		$	8,908		$	49,832		$	27,376
Earnings per share:
Basic	$	0.26		$	0.22		$	1.13		$	0.71
Diluted	$	0.26		$	0.22		$	1.12		$	0.70
Weighted average number of shares used in computation of earnings per share:
Basic		45,347			40,670			44,182			38,762
Diluted		45,423			40,852			44,298			38,880

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Ormat Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
As of December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007
(Unaudited)

	December 31,
	2008		2007
	(in thousands)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	34,393	$	47,227
Marketable securities		—		13,489
Restricted cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities		24,439		29,236
Receivables:
Trade		49,839		46,519
Related entities		338		385
Other		15,654		9,008
Due from Parent		1,085		253
Inventories, net		13,724		10,312
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts		6,982		3,608
Deferred income taxes		3,003		1,732
Prepaid expenses and other		16,222		7,059
Total current assets		165,679		168,828
Long-term marketable securities		1,994		2,762
Restricted cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities		2,951		5,605
Unconsolidated investments		30,559		30,560
Deposits and other		16,876		15,294
Deferred income taxes		13,965		12,427
Property, plant and equipment, net		958,186		743,386
Construction-in-process		386,501		234,014
Deferred financing and lease costs, net		16,127		14,044
Intangible assets, net		44,853		47,989
Total assets	$	1,637,691	$	1,274,909
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	103,336	$	75,836
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts		15,670		4,818
Current portion of long-term debt:
Limited and non-recourse		6,676		7,667
Full recourse		—		1,000
Senior secured notes (non-recourse)		20,085		25,475
Due to Parent, including current portion of notes payable to Parent		16,616		31,695
Total current liabilities		162,383		146,491
Long-term debt, net of current portion:
Limited and non-recourse		7,814		14,490
Revolving credit line with banks		100,000		—
Senior secured notes (non-recourse)		252,060		273,840
Notes payable to Parent, net of current portion		9,600		26,200
Deferred lease income		74,427		76,198
Deferred income taxes		33,231		20,680
Liability for unrecognized tax benefits		3,425		5,330
Liabilities for severance pay		17,640		15,201
Asset retirement obligation		13,438		13,014
Total liabilities		674,018		591,444
Minority interest		117,245		65,382
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock		45		41
Additional paid-in capital		701,273		513,109
Retained earnings		144,465		103,545
Accumulated other comprehensive income		645		1,388
Total stockholders’ equity		846,428		618,083
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	1,637,691	$	1,274,909

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Ormat Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA
(Unaudited)

We calculate EBITDA as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, equity income of investees, minority interest and other non-operating expense (income). We calculate adjusted EBITDA to include operating income, depreciation and amortization, interest and taxes attributable to our equity investments in the Mammoth and Leyte Projects. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are not measurements of financial performance under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities or as a measure of liquidity or an alternative to net earnings as indicators of our operating performance or any other measures of performance derived in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are presented because we believe they are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of a Company’s ability to service and/or incur debt. However, other companies in our industry may calculate EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA differently than we do. The following table reconciles net income to EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, for the three and twelve month periods ended December 31, 2008 and 2007:

	Three Months Ended December 31,						Year Ended December 31,
	2008			2007			2008			2007
	(in thousands)						(in thousands)
Net income	$	11,696		$	8,908		$	49,832		$	27,376
Adjusted for:
Equity in income of investees		(406	)		(878	)		(1,725	)		(4,742	)
Minority interest		(3,095	)		(2,297	)		(11,166	)		(3,882	)
Interest expense, net (including amortization of deferred financing costs)		1,787			4,809			8,754			22,438
Other non-operating expense		4,708			273			6,950			449
Income tax provision (benefit)		91			(475	)		7,962			1,822
Depreciation and amortization		15,368			12,917			58,773			49,111
EBITDA		30,149			23,257			119,380			92,572
Equity in income of Mammoth-Pacific L.P. and Ormat Leyte		406			878			1,725			4,742
Depreciation, amortization, interest and taxes attributable to the Company’s equity in Mammoth-Pacific L.P. and Ormat Leyte		900			1,105			3,636			9,881
Adjusted EBITDA	$	31,455		$	25,240		$	124,741		$	107,195

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