Note 23 - Operating Risk (Details) - Concentrations of Credit Risk and Major Customers - Revenue (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 91,642	[1]	$ 42,629	[1]
Zhongwei Hanky Wiye Solar Co., Ltd. [Member] | Sales Revenue, Net [Member] | Customer Concentration Risk [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Percent of Revenue	30.00%
Zhongwei Hanky Wiye Solar Co., Ltd. [Member] | Sales Revenue, Net [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Revenue	27,871
Alxa League Zhiwei Photovoltaic Power Generation Co., Ltd. [Member] | Sales Revenue, Net [Member] | Customer Concentration Risk [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Percent of Revenue	26.00%
Alxa League Zhiwei Photovoltaic Power Generation Co., Ltd. [Member] | Sales Revenue, Net [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Revenue	23,939
Xinyu Realforce Energy Co., Ltd. [Member] | Sales Revenue, Net [Member] | Customer Concentration Risk [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Percent of Revenue	26.00%
Xinyu Realforce Energy Co., Ltd. [Member] | Sales Revenue, Net [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Revenue	23,585
KDC Solar Credit LS, LLC [Member] | Sales Revenue, Net [Member] | Customer Concentration Risk [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Percent of Revenue	13.00%		54.00%
KDC Solar Credit LS, LLC [Member] | Sales Revenue, Net [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Revenue	11,886		22,829
Thermi Venture S.A. [Member] | Sales Revenue, Net [Member] | Customer Concentration Risk [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Percent of Revenue			32.00%
Thermi Venture S.A. [Member] | Sales Revenue, Net [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Revenue			13,854
Sales Revenue, Net [Member] | Customer Concentration Risk [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Percent of Revenue	95.00%		86.00%
Sales Revenue, Net [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 87,281		$ 36,683

[1] Sales are attributed to countries based on location of customer.