Note 17 - Related Party Transactions (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended			1 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2012	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]	Mar. 31, 2013 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]	Mar. 31, 2013 LDK [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 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%
Revenue from Related Parties	0	13,567,000	[1]										29,200,000	1,900,000	16,100,000
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage					40.00%
Related Party Costs	0	12,942,000	[1]
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties, Current	11,440,000			11,858,000							11,400,000	11,900,000
Accounts Payable, Related Parties, Current	$ 51,350,000			$ 51,804,000												$ 51,400,000	$ 51,800,000

[1] As recast to reflect the financial results of SGT, combined with the financial results of Solar Power, Inc. as required under the accounting guidelines for a transfer of an entity under common control (refer to Note 5 -Acquisition of Solar Green Technology ).