Note 10 - Long-term Debt and Credit Agreements (Details) - Long-Term Debt (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Limited recourse:
	$ 632,902	$ 595,425
Less current portion	(51,514)	(39,684)
Non-current portion	581,387	555,741
Full recourse agreements:
Full Recourse Agreements	444,955	435,503
Less current portion	(28,875)	(28,649)
Non-current portion	416,080	406,854
Loan Agreement with TCW (The Amatitlan Power Plant) [Member]
Non-recourse:
Non-Recourse Agreements	31,509	34,268
Loan Agreement with OPIC (The Olkaria III Power Plant) [Member]
Non-recourse:
Non-Recourse Agreements	299,946	220,000
Ormat Funding Corp [Member]
Non-recourse:
Non-Recourse Agreements	90,840	114,136
Orcal Geothermal Inc [Member]
Non-recourse:
Non-Recourse Agreements	66,156	76,548
OFC Two Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Non-recourse:
Non-Recourse Agreements	144,450	150,473
Senior Unsecured Bonds Member
Full recourse agreements:
Full Recourse Agreements	250,596	250,904
Institutional Investors [Member]
Full recourse agreements:
Full Recourse Agreements	32,868	43,624
Olkaria III - DEG [Member]
Full recourse agreements:
Full Recourse Agreements	39,474	47,369
Loan Agreement with Commercial Bank [Member]
Full recourse agreements:
Full Recourse Agreements	10,000	20,000
Revolving Credit Lines with Banks [Member]
Full recourse agreements:
Full Recourse Agreements	$ 112,017	$ 73,606