Related Parties Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 kW	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011		Jun. 22, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Jan. 10, 2011
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Net proceeds from sale of assets held for sale		$ 1,500,000					$ 1,500,000
Amount assigned from assets sale to loan obligation	4,200,000	4,200,000		4,200,000			4,200,000
Series A Preferred Stock, shares issued	0			0			0			0	[1]		20,000,000
Aggregate purchase price of series A Preferred Stock, shares issued											[1]		22,200,000
Common Stock, shares issued	198,214,456			198,214,456			198,214,456			198,214,456	[1]			42,835,947
Aggregate purchase price of Common Stock shares, issued	20,000			20,000			20,000			18,000	[1]			10,700,000
Percentage of shares issued under Stock Purchase Agreement to outstanding Common Stock												70.00%
Contract value for construction of solar development project			29,200,000
Solar development projects capacity	641
Net sales to LDK and NPSLLC				12,470,000	5,851,000	[2]	33,473,000	29,258,000	[2]
Cost of goods sold to LDK and NPSLLC				11,410,000	6,574,000	[2]	31,002,000	25,953,000	[2]
Accounts receivable from LDK and NPSLLC	26,079,000			26,079,000			26,079,000			22,467,000	[1]
Accounts payable primarily related to the purchase of solar panels	52,915,000			52,915,000			52,915,000			62,215,000	[1]
Ldk Europe [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Equity method investment in terrasol	40.00%			40.00%			40.00%
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Automatic converted Preferred stock												88,910,400
Percentage of shares issued under Stock Purchase Agreement to outstanding Common Stock												70.00%
HEK [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Capital contribution							20,000
Percentage of membership interest, received							35.00%
Net proceeds from sale of assets held for sale		1,500,000
Amount assigned from assets sale to loan obligation		4,200,000
LDK [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Series A Preferred Stock, shares issued													20,000,000
Aggregate purchase price of series A Preferred Stock, shares issued													22,200,000
Common Stock, shares issued														42,835,947
Aggregate purchase price of Common Stock shares, issued														10,700,000
Accounts payable primarily related to the purchase of solar panels	52,900,000			52,900,000			52,900,000			62,200,000
LDK [Member] | Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Series A Preferred Stock, shares issued												20,000,000
Percentage of shares issued under Stock Purchase Agreement to outstanding Common Stock												70.00%
Moiac Solare Srl [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Contract value for construction of solar development project	1,900,000
SGT [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Contract value for construction of solar development project		$ 16,100,000

[1] As recast to reflect the balances of Solar Green Technology S.p.A. ("SGT") beginning January 1, 2011 combined with the balances 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).

[2] 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).