Note 12 - ORTP Tax Monetization Transaction (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Jan. 24, 2013 Common Class A [Member] Ormat Nevada Ortp LLC [Member]	Jan. 24, 2013 Common Class B [Member] Ormat Nevada Ortp LLC [Member]	Jan. 24, 2013 Ormat Nevada Ortp LLC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Ormat Nevada Ortp LLC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Ormat Nevada Ortp LLC [Member]
Note 12 - ORTP Tax Monetization Transaction (Details) [Line Items]
Proceeds from Sales of Business, Affiliate and Productive Assets							$ 35,700,000
Additional Proceeds as Percentage of Production Tax Credit							25.00%
Final Additional Payments Expected Date							Dec. 31, 2016
Expected Future Payments							8,700,000
Percentage of Distributable Cash After Flip Date							97.50%
Percentage of Taxable Income After Flip Date							95.00%
Percentage Allocation Of Income and Loss							5.00%
Percentage Allocation of Cash							2.50%
Common Stock Voting Rights Percentage					75.00%	25.00%
Equity Method Investment, Realized Gain (Loss) on Disposal	5,027,000	2,311,000	14,342,000	7,417,000				2,000,000	6,100,000
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee, Noncontrolling Interest in Income of Subsidiary								3,900,000	10,300,000
Financial Charges Interest Expense								$ 1,900,000	$ 4,200,000