Note 1 - Nature of Operations, Basis of Presentation and Company Conditions - Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Finite-lived intangible asset, gross	$ 13,700
Finite-lived intangible asset, accumulated amortization	(12,166)	$ (11,191)
Total Identifiable other intangible assets, gross	28,268	15,489
Total Identifiable other intangible assets, net	16,102	4,298
Integrated Energy Infrastructure Solutions and Services Segment [Member]
Finite-lived intangible asset, gross	13,775	14,733
Finite-lived intangible asset, accumulated amortization	(10,360)	(10,457)
Finite-lived intangible asset, net	3,415	4,276
Electric Power and Solar Infrastructure Services Segment [Member]
Finite-lived intangible asset, gross	13,737
Finite-lived intangible asset, accumulated amortization	(1,062)
Finite-lived intangible asset, net	12,675
Other Segments [Member]
Finite-lived intangible asset, gross	756	756
Finite-lived intangible asset, accumulated amortization	(744)	(734)
Finite-lived intangible asset, net	$ 12	22
Order or Production Backlog [Member] | Integrated Energy Infrastructure Solutions and Services Segment [Member]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life (Year)	2 years
Finite-lived intangible asset, gross	$ 2,746	2,938
Finite-lived intangible asset, accumulated amortization	(2,746)	(2,938)
Finite-lived intangible asset, net
Trade name - Orbital [Member] | Integrated Energy Infrastructure Solutions and Services Segment [Member]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life (Year)	10 years
Finite-lived intangible asset, gross	$ 1,477	1,579
Finite-lived intangible asset, accumulated amortization	(1,071)	(1,066)
Finite-lived intangible asset, net	$ 406	513
Customer List - Orbital [Member] | Integrated Energy Infrastructure Solutions and Services Segment [Member]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life (Year)	10 years
Finite-lived intangible asset, gross	$ 5,741	6,142
Finite-lived intangible asset, accumulated amortization	(4,163)	(4,146)
Finite-lived intangible asset, net	$ 1,578	1,996
Developed Technology Rights [Member] | Integrated Energy Infrastructure Solutions and Services Segment [Member]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life (Year)	20 years
Finite-lived intangible asset, gross	$ 308	330
Finite-lived intangible asset, accumulated amortization	(214)	(213)
Finite-lived intangible asset, net	$ 94	117
Technology - Based Asset - Know How [Member] | Integrated Energy Infrastructure Solutions and Services Segment [Member]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life (Year)	12 years
Finite-lived intangible asset, gross	$ 2,326	2,488
Finite-lived intangible asset, accumulated amortization	(1,405)	(1,399)
Finite-lived intangible asset, net	$ 921	1,089
Technology -Based Asset - Software [Member] | Integrated Energy Infrastructure Solutions and Services Segment [Member]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life (Year)	10 years
Finite-lived intangible asset, gross	$ 504	539
Finite-lived intangible asset, accumulated amortization	(365)	(364)
Finite-lived intangible asset, net	139	175
Computer Software, Intangible Asset [Member] | Integrated Energy Infrastructure Solutions and Services Segment [Member]
Finite-lived intangible asset, gross	673	717
Finite-lived intangible asset, accumulated amortization	(396)	(331)
Finite-lived intangible asset, net	$ 277	386
Computer Software, Intangible Asset [Member] | Integrated Energy Infrastructure Solutions and Services Segment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life (Year)	3 years
Computer Software, Intangible Asset [Member] | Integrated Energy Infrastructure Solutions and Services Segment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life (Year)	5 years
Computer Software, Intangible Asset [Member] | Other Segments [Member]
Finite-lived intangible asset, gross	$ 720	720
Finite-lived intangible asset, accumulated amortization	(708)	(698)
Finite-lived intangible asset, net	$ 12	22
Computer Software, Intangible Asset [Member] | Other Segments [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life (Year)	3 years
Computer Software, Intangible Asset [Member] | Other Segments [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life (Year)	5 years
Customer Relationships [Member] | Electric Power and Solar Infrastructure Services Segment [Member]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life (Year)	5 years
Finite-lived intangible asset, gross	$ 8,647
Finite-lived intangible asset, accumulated amortization	(432)
Finite-lived intangible asset, net	$ 8,215
Trade Names [Member] | Electric Power and Solar Infrastructure Services Segment [Member]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life (Year)	1 year
Finite-lived intangible asset, gross	$ 1,878
Finite-lived intangible asset, accumulated amortization	(469)
Finite-lived intangible asset, net	$ 1,409
Noncompete Agreements [Member] | Electric Power and Solar Infrastructure Services Segment [Member]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life (Year)	5 years
Finite-lived intangible asset, gross	$ 3,212
Finite-lived intangible asset, accumulated amortization	(161)
Finite-lived intangible asset, net	$ 3,051
Product Certification [Member] | Other Segments [Member]
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life (Year)	3 years
Finite-lived intangible asset, gross	$ 36	36
Finite-lived intangible asset, accumulated amortization	(36)	(36)
Finite-lived intangible asset, net