Note 20 - Related Party Transactions (Detail) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended			1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
	Jun. 22, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012 Century Solar Jewel SA [Member]	Dec. 29, 2004 HEK [Member]	Jun. 22, 2011 LDK [Member] Series A Preferred Stock [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 LDK [Member] Series A Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 22, 2011 LDK [Member]	Jan. 31, 2011 LDK [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 LDK [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 North Palm Springs Investments LLC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Moiac Solare Srl [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 EPC Agreement with Terrasol [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 LDK [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 LDK [Member]
Partners' Capital Account, Contributions						$ 20,000
Limited Liability Company (LLC) or Limited Partnership (LP), Managing Member or General Partner, Ownership Interest						35.00%
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues (in Shares)								20,000,000		42,835,947
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues								22,200,000
Conversion of Stock, Shares Converted (in Shares)							20,000,000
Conversion of Stock, Shares Issued (in Shares)									88,910,400
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock										10,700,000
Percentage of Common Stock Outstanding Owned by Parent Company	71.00%	71.00%							71.00%
Revenue from Related Parties		35,539,000	31,470,000	[1]								29,200,000	1,900,000	16,100,000
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage					40.00%
Related Party Costs		32,617,000	28,405,000	[1]
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties, Current		11,858,000	24,584,000	[2]							11,900,000					24,600,000
Accounts Payable, Related Parties, Current		$ 51,804,000	$ 62,215,000	[2]											$ 51,800,000	$ 62,200,000

[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 5 -Acquisition of Solar Green Technology ).

[2] 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 5 -Acquisition of Solar Green Technology).