The invention is a system and method for synchronizing an induction machine to an electrical grid. The embodiment described is an ORC power plant having a motor-generator in mechanical communication with a turbine. The motor-generator is operated with open windings (e.g., freewheeling) by driving the turbine with a variable speed pump. The rotational speed of the motor-generator is sensed. When the motor-generator is operating at a rotational speed near the steady state rotational speed that corresponds to operation of the ORC power plant, the contacts between the motor-generator windings and the grid are closed, and the motor is synchronized with the grid.