Note 13 - Stock-based Compensation (Detail) - Restricted Stock Awards (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Acquired in a transfer of an entity under common control (1)			2,505,175	[1]
Restricted Stock [Member] | Beginning of Period [Member]
Restricted stock units at January 1, 2011 (1)				[2]
Restricted stock units at January 1, 2011 (1) (in Dollars per share)				[2]
Acquired in a transfer of an entity under common control (1)			525,868	[2]
Acquired in a transfer of an entity under common control (1) (in Dollars per share)			$ 1.03	[2]
Granted			400,000
Granted, weighted average grant date fair value (in Dollars per share)			$ 0.48
Forfeited			0
Forfeited, weighted average grant date fair value (in Dollars per share)			$ 0
Restricted Stock [Member] | End of Period [Member]
Restricted stock units at January 1, 2011 (1)	925,868
Restricted stock units at January 1, 2011 (1) (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.79
Restricted stock units	1,325,868
Restricted stock units, weighted average grant date fair value (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.63
Granted	400,000
Granted, weighted average grant date fair value (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.27
Forfeited	0
Forfeited, weighted average grant date fair value (in Dollars per share)	$ 0
Restricted Stock [Member]
Restricted stock units at January 1, 2011 (1) (in Dollars per share)	$ 0	[3]
Restricted stock units, weighted average grant date fair value (in Dollars per share)			$ 0	[3]
Acquired in a transfer of an entity under common control (1)				[3]
Acquired in a transfer of an entity under common control (1) (in Dollars per share)				[3]
Granted	400,000		400,000
Granted, weighted average grant date fair value (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.27		$ 0.48

[1] As recast to reflect the activity of 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 5-Acquisition of Solar Green Technology ).

[2] As recast to reflect the activity of 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 5 -Acquisition of Solar Green Technology ).

[3] As recast to reflect the activity of 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 5-Acquisition of Solar Green Technology).