Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011
Contingencies And Commitments [Line Items]
Restricted bank deposits	$ 500,000			$ 500,000	$ 1,000,000
Reserve pursuant to loan agreement, released due to sale of stock				300,000
Period for options exercisable				9 months
Period of commencing of operations of the facility after period of option exercisable				63 months
Maximum amount of purchase price	1,000,000			1,000,000
Guarantees	100,000			100,000	100,000
Proceeds received from the project in long-term liabilities				22,939,000	13,900,000	11,564,000	[1]
Period related to energy output guaranty				10 years
Performance guarantee, charge against entity's reserve	0	0	0	0
Standard period offers by Company on solar modules				25 years
Standard period offer by Company on inverter				5 years
Capital lease commitments, Expiration Date				2030
Total damages from the Company plus its attorneys' fees and costs				$ 339,544

[1] As recast to reflect the financial results of SGT beginning January 1, 2011 combined with the financial results of Solar Power, Inc. beginning March 31, 2011, as required under the accounting guidelines for a transfer of an entity under common control (refer to Note 4-Acquisition of Solar Green Technology).