Corporate costs and other.

No definition available.

Name:	ora_CorporateCostsAndOther
Namespace Prefix:	ora_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the monthly rent required for operating lease.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ora_OperatingLeaseMonthlyRent
Namespace Prefix:	ora_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of other research and development expense.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ora_OtherResearchAndDevelopmentExpensePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	ora_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the percentage of the company that is public after the transition to a noncontrolled public entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ora_PercentageOfPublicFloatAfterTransitionToNoncontrolledPublicCompany
Namespace Prefix:	ora_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the percentage of the company that was public before it became a noncontrolled public entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ora_PercentageOfPublicFloatBeforeTransitionToNoncontrolledPublicCompany
Namespace Prefix:	ora_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of shares granted per share outstanding in the share exchange.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ora_ShareExchangeSharesGrantedPerShare
Namespace Prefix:	ora_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of shares of common stock outstanding. Common stock represent the ownership interest in a corporation.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of new shares issued in the conversion of stock in a noncash (or part noncash) transaction. Noncash is defined as transactions during a period that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4313-108586

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4332-108586

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4304-108586

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConversionOfStockSharesIssued1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amounts due from owners or owners with a beneficial interest of more than 10 percent of the voting interests or officers of the company, which are usually due within 1 year (or 1 business cycle).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(k)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39599-107864

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3(a)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DueFromOfficersOrStockholdersCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Term of the lessor's leasing arrangement, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LessorLeasingArrangementsOperatingLeasesTermOfContract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash received on stock transaction after deduction of issuance costs.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SaleOfStockConsiderationReceivedOnTransaction
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of consideration received by subsidiary or equity investee in exchange for shares of stock issued or sold. Includes amount of cash received, fair value of noncash assets received, and fair value of liabilities assumed by the investor.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SaleOfStockConsiderationReceivedPerTransaction
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of new stock issued during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(29))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(28))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=ora_OrmatSystemsLtdMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=ora_OrmatIndustriesLtdMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_NonmonetaryTransactionTypeAxis=ora_SharesIssuedToSelfDeductedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_NonmonetaryTransactionTypeAxis=ora_SaleOfStockOtherAssetsReceivedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_NonmonetaryTransactionTypeAxis=ora_SaleOfStockLandAndBuildingsReceivedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_NonmonetaryTransactionTypeAxis=ora_SaleOfStockLiabilitiesAssumedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=ora_IsraeliConsumerPriceIndexMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Note 21 - Transactions with Related Entities (Details Textual) - USD ($)			1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 12, 2015	Apr. 01, 2009	Jul. 31, 2004	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Feb. 11, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Due from Officers or Stockholders, Current					$ 0		$ 1,337,000
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding				49,667,340	49,107,901
Corporate Costs And Other				$ 10,000
Other Research and Development Expense, Percentage				10.00%
Lessor Leasing Arrangements, Operating Leases, Term of Contract			25 years
Ormat Systems Ltd [Member]
Operating Lease, Monthly Rent		$ 77,000	$ 52,000
Ormat Industries Ltd. [Member]
Percentage of Public Float Before Transition to Noncontrolled Public Company						40.00%
Percentage of Public Float After Transition to Noncontrolled Public Company	76.00%
Share Exchange Shares Granted Per Share	0.2592
Conversion of Stock, Shares Issued	30,200,000
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues	3,000,000
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	48,500,000					45,500,000
Sale of Stock, Consideration Received on Transaction	$ 15,400,000
Ormat Industries Ltd. [Member] \| Shares Issued to Self, Deducted [Member]
Conversion of Stock, Shares Issued	27,200,000
Ormat Industries Ltd. [Member] \| Sale of Stock, Other Assets Received [Member]
Sale of Stock, Consideration Received Per Transaction	$ 600,000
Ormat Industries Ltd. [Member] \| Sale of Stock, Land and Buildings Received [Member]
Sale of Stock, Consideration Received Per Transaction	12,100,000
Ormat Industries Ltd. [Member] \| Sale of Stock, Liabilities Assumed [Member]
Sale of Stock, Consideration Received Per Transaction	$ 500,000
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate					1.00%
Israeli Consumer Price Index [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate					4.00%