Note 11 - Business Segment Information (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]

In thousands of dollars:
Three Months	Net Revenue		Loss (Income) From Operations			Depreciation and Amortization		Assets
September 30, 2013
Power & Energy Group	$	1,072	$	3,796			425	$	66,330
All Other		60		(41	)		19		277
Consolidated Total	$	1,132	$	3,755		$	444	$	66,607
September 30, 2012
Power & Energy Group	$	296	$	4,483		$	233	$	54,087
All Other		64		(44	)		19		353
Consolidated Total	$	360	$	4,439		$	252	$	54,440

Nine Months	Net Revenue		Loss (Income) From Operations			Depreciation and Amortization		Assets
September 30, 2013
Power & Energy Group	$	5,958	$	10,515			1,006	$	66,330
All Other		180		(123	)		57		277
Consolidated Total	$	6,138	$	10,392		$	1,063	$	66,607
September 30, 2012
Power & Energy Group	$	886	$	14,507		$	714	$	54,087
All Other		185		(125	)		57		353
Consolidated Total	$	1,071	$	14,382		$	771	$	54,440

Schedule of Revenue by Major Customers by Reporting Segments [Table Text Block]

Customer	Revenue Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013		Accounts Receivable Balance at September 30, 2013
Power and Energy Group:
Hawaiian Electric Light Company	$	2,082
Proterra, LLC		1,529	$	676
Vestas		1,291		62

Customer	Revenue Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012		Accounts Receivable Balance at September 30, 2012
Power and Energy Group:
Emrol	$	139
Hybricon		131
Proterra		121	$	121
ABB Secheron		111		2

Schedule of Revenue from External Customers Attributed to Foreign Countries by Geographic Area [Table Text Block]

	Revenue Nine Months Ended		Sales Nine Months Ended
Geographic information (a)	2013		2012
United States	$	4,542	$	251
Denmark		1,291
Belgium		137		139
Germany				145
Sweden		43		131
Switzerland				111
Other foreign countries		125		294
Total	$	6,138	$	1,071

Schedule of Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets in Individual Foreign Countries by Country [Table Text Block]

Long-lived assets:	Balance at September 30, 2013		Balance at December 31, 2012
United States	$	4,841	$	6,207
China		29,436		13,625
Total	$	34,277	$	19,832