Note 14 - Tax Monetization Transactions (Details Textual) $ in Thousands					1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended					72 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 16, 2016 USD ($)	Feb. 03, 2011 USD ($)	Oct. 30, 2009 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2007	Dec. 31, 2009 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2008 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2007 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 15, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010	Oct. 03, 2009
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests									$ 1,972	$ 1,654	$ 2,234
Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Subsidiary Equity Issuance									44,102	156,635
Proceeds from Sales of Business, Affiliate and Productive Assets											$ 35,250
Proceeds from Additional Payments																	$ 2,000
Subsequent Event [Member]
Proceeds from Additional Payments															$ 1,600
Opal Geo LLC [Member]
Percentage Of Distributable Cash to Controlling Interest		97.50%
Percentage of Income (Loss), Gain, Deduction and Credit Allocated to Controlling Interests		1.00%
Percentage of Income (Loss), Gain, Deduction and Credit Allocated to Controlling Interests, PTCs Not Available		95.00%
Opal Geo LLC [Member] | Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Percentage of Income (Loss), Gain, Deduction and Credit Allocated to Controlling Interests	95.00%
Opal Geo LLC [Member] | JPM Capital Corporation [Member]
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests		$ 62,100
Percentage Of Distributable Cash to Nontrolling Interests		2.50%
Percentage of Income (Loss), Gain, Deduction and Credit Allocated to Noncontrolling Interests		99.00%
Percentage of Income (Loss), Gain, Deduction and Credit Allocated to Noncontrolling Interests, PTCs Not Available		5.00%
Opal Geo LLC [Member] | JPM Capital Corporation [Member] | Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests		$ 3,700
Opal Geo LLC [Member] | JPM Capital Corporation [Member] | Liability for Sale of Tax Benefit [Member]
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests		$ 58,500
Opal Geo LLC [Member] | JPM Capital Corporation [Member] | Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests														$ 21,000
Percentage Of Distributable Cash to Nontrolling Interests	100.00%
Percentage of Income (Loss), Gain, Deduction and Credit Allocated to Noncontrolling Interests	5.00%
Opal Geo LLC [Member] | JPM Capital Corporation [Member] | Capital Unit, Class B [Member]
Percentage of Equity Interest Sold		100.00%
Ormat Nevada ORTP LLC [Member]
Percentage Of Ownership Interests																		82.50%
Number Of Facilities							4
Proceeds From Sale Of Equity Units												$ 63,000	$ 71,800
Percentage Of Ownership Interests Flip Date																		95.00%
Percentage Of Ownership Interests By Noncontrolling Owners Flip Date			5.00%															5.00%	3.50%
Payments for Repurchase of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest				$ 18,500
Gain From Repurchase Of Interests At Discount								$ 13,300
Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Purchase Of Noncontrolling Interest								$ 1,100
Percentage Of Ownership Interests Purchased From Noncontrolling Owners			1.50%					1.50%
Proceeds Sale Minority Interest			$ 24,900
Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Subsidiary Equity Issuance			$ 2,300
Proceeds from Sales of Business, Affiliate and Productive Assets						$ 35,700
Additional Proceeds As Percentage Of Production Tax Credit						25.00%
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%
Final Additional Payments Expected Date					Dec. 31, 2016
Ormat Nevada ORTP LLC [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Expected Future Payments									$ 11,000
Ormat Nevada ORTP LLC [Member] | Common Class A [Member]
Common Stock Voting Rights Percentage						75.00%
Ormat Nevada ORTP LLC [Member] | Common Class B [Member]
Common Stock Voting Rights Percentage						25.00%
Ormat Nevada ORTP LLC [Member] | Capital Unit, Class B [Member]
Percentage Of Ownership Interests			7.50%
Ownership Percentage Of Common Shares Outstanding			30.00%
Ownership Percentage Of Common Shares Outstanding By Non Controlling Interest																		70.00%
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners																		17.50%
Ormat Nevada ORTP LLC [Member] | Capital Unit, Class A [Member]
Percentage Of Ownership Interests			75.00%
DAC 2 [Member]
Percentage Of Ownership Interests																63.25%
Other Geothermal Power Plants [Member]
Percentage Of Ownership Interests																100.00%
Opal Geo LLC [Member] | Capital Unit, Class A [Member]
Percentage Of Ownership Interests		100.00%
OPC LLC [Member] | JPM Capital Corporation [Member] | Capital Unit, Class B [Member]
Fair Value of Equity Interest Sold		$ 3,000
Nevada [Member]
Number of Power Plants		5