Note 2 - Share Exchange Transaction	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Notes to Financial Statements
Share Exchange Transaction [Text Block]	NOTE 2 — SHARE EXCHANGE TRANSACTION Share exchange transaction On February 12, 2015, the Company completed the share exchange transaction with its then-parent entity, Ormat Industries Ltd. ("OIL") following which, the Company became a noncontrolled public company and its public float increased from approximately 40% to approximately 76% of its total shares outstanding. Under the terms of the share exchange, OIL shareholders received 0.2592 shares in the Company for each share in OIL, or an aggregate of approximately 30.2 million shares, reflecting a net issuance of approximately 3.0 million shares (after deducting the 27.2 million shares that OIL held in the Company). Consequently, the number of total shares of the Company outstanding increased from approximately 45.5 million shares to approximately 48.5 million shares as of the closing of the share exchange. In exchange, the Company also received $15.4 million in cash, $0.6 million in other assets and $12.1 million in land and buildings and assumed $0.5 million in liabilities. OIL's principal business purpose was to hold its interest in the Company and the transaction resulted in a transfer of non-material assets from OIL to the Company. Therefore, there was no change in the reporting entity as a result of the transaction and the Company recognized the transfer of net assets at their carrying value as presented in OIL's financial statements. Any activities of OIL will be accounted for prospectively by the Company.

NOTE

— SHARE EXCHANGE TRANSACTION

Share exchange transaction

February

12,

2015,

the Company completed the share exchange transaction with its then-parent entity, Ormat Industries Ltd. ("OIL") following which, the Company became a noncontrolled public company and its public float increased from approximately

40%

to approximately

76%

of its total shares outstanding. Under the terms of the share exchange, OIL shareholders received

0.2592

shares in the Company for each share in OIL, or an aggregate of approximately

30.2

million shares, reflecting a net issuance of approximately

3.0

million shares (after deducting the

27.2

million shares that OIL held in the Company). Consequently, the number of total shares of the Company outstanding increased from approximately

45.5

million shares to approximately

48.5

million shares as of the closing of the share exchange.

In exchange, the Company also received

$15.4

million in cash,

$0.6

million in other assets and

$12.1

million in land and buildings and assumed

$0.5

million in liabilities. OIL's principal business purpose was to hold its interest in the Company and the transaction resulted in a transfer of non-material assets from OIL to the Company. Therefore, there was no change in the reporting entity as a result of the transaction and the Company recognized the transfer of net assets at their carrying value as presented in OIL's financial statements. Any activities of OIL will be accounted for prospectively by the Company.