Note 1 - Business and Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Notes to Financial Statements

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE 1 — BUSINESS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Business

The Company is primarily engaged in the geothermal and recovered energy business, including the supply of equipment that is manufactured by the Company and the design and construction of power plants for projects owned by the Company or for third parties. The Company owns and operates geothermal and recovered energy-based power plants in various countries, including the United States, Kenya, Guatemala, Guadeloupe and Honduras. The Company’s equipment manufacturing operations are located in Israel. Additionally, the Company provides energy storage, demand response and energy management related services as well as services relating to the engineering, procurement, construction, operation and maintenance of energy storage units.

Most of the Company’s domestic power plant facilities are Qualifying Facilities under the PURPA. The Power Purchase Agreements ("PPAs") for certain of such facilities are dependent upon their maintaining Qualifying Facility status. Management believes that all of the facilities located in the United States were in compliance with Qualifying Facility status requirements as of December 31, 2019.

Cash dividends

During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) declared, approved, and authorized the payment of cash dividends in the aggregate amount of $22.4 million ($0.44 per share), $26.8 million ($0.53 per share), and $20.5 million ($0.44 per share), respectively. Such dividends were paid in the years declared.

Rounding

Dollar amounts, except per share data, in the notes to these financial statements are rounded to the closest $1,000, unless otherwise indicated.

Basis of presentation

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and include the accounts of the Company and of all majority-owned subsidiaries in which the Company exercises control over operating and financial policies, and variable interest entities in which the Company has an interest and is the primary beneficiary. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Investments in less-than-majority-owned entities or other entities in which the Company exercises significant influence over operating and financial policies are accounted for using the equity method of accounting or consolidated if they are a variable interest entity in which the Company has an interest and is the primary beneficiary. Under the equity method, original investments are recorded at cost and adjusted by the Company’s share of undistributed earnings or losses of such companies. The Company’s earnings or losses in investments accounted for under the equity method have been reflected as “equity in earnings (losses) of investees, net” on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

Cash and cash equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid instruments, with an original maturity of three months or less, to be cash equivalents.

Restricted cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities

Under the terms of certain long-term debt agreements, the Company is required to maintain certain debt service reserves, cash collateral and operating fund accounts that have been classified as restricted cash and cash equivalents. Funds that will be used to satisfy obligations due during the next 12 months are classified as current restricted cash and cash equivalents, with the remainder classified as non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents. Such amounts were invested primarily in money market accounts and commercial paper with a minimum investment grade of “A”.

Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents reported on the balance sheet that sum to the total of the same amounts shown on the statement of cash flows:

	December 31,
	2019		2018		2017
	(Dollars in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	71,173	$	98,802	$	47,818
Restricted cash and cash equivalents		81,937		78,693		48,825
Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents	$	153,110	$	177,495	$	96,643

Concentration of credit risk

Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist principally of temporary cash investments and accounts receivable.

The Company places its temporary cash investments with high credit quality financial institutions located in the U.S. and in foreign countries. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company had deposits totaling $12.9 million and $31.3 million, respectively, in ten United States financial institutions that were federally insured up to $250,000 per account. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company’s deposits in foreign countries of approximately $84.8 million and $93.9 million, respectively, were not insured.

At December 31, 2019 and 2018, accounts receivable related to operations in foreign countries amounted to approximately $118.8 million and $102.0 million, respectively. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, accounts receivable from the Company’s major customers (see Note 19) amounted to approximately 58% and 56%, respectively, of the Company’s accounts receivable.

The Company has historically been able to collect substantially all of its receivable balances. As of December 31, 2019, the amount overdue from KPLC in Kenya was $40.7 million of which $24.2 million was paid in January and February of 2020. These amounts represent an average of 70 days overdue, an increase of 10 days from September 30, 2019. In Honduras, the Company has been able to collect its current charges from Empresa Nacional de Energía Eléctrica (“ENEE”) starting in May 2019, however, as of December 31, 2019, the amount overdue relating to the period from October 2018 to April 2019 was $20.1 million, none of which has been paid to date. Due to obligations of the Honduran government to support the Company, the Company believes it will be able to collect all past due amounts.

Additionally, Pacific Gas and Electric Corporation (“PG&E Corporation”) and its subsidiary Pacific Gas and Electric Company (“PG&E”), which accounted for 1.5%, 1.9% and 2.0% of the Company's total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, are facing extraordinary challenges relating to a series of catastrophic wildfires that occurred in Northern California in 2017 and 2018. As a result, on January 29, 2019, PG&E Corporation and its subsidiary, PG&E, voluntarily filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The Company is closely monitoring its PG&E balance to ensure cash receipts are received on a timely basis each month. As of December 31, 2019, the outstanding balance relates to the current December 2019 invoices which were paid in January 2020.

Inventories

Inventories consist primarily of raw material parts and sub-assemblies for power units and are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, using the weighted-average cost method. Inventories are reduced by a provision for slow-moving and obsolete inventories. This provision was not material at December 31, 2019 and 2018.

Deposits and other

Deposits and other consist primarily of performance bonds for construction projects, long-term insurance contract and receivables, certain deferred costs and derivative instruments.

Property, plant and equipment, net

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. All costs associated with the acquisition, development and construction of power plants operated by the Company are capitalized. Major improvements are capitalized and repairs and maintenance (including major maintenance) costs are expensed. Power plants operated by the Company, which include geothermal wells and exploration and resource development costs, are depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, which range from 15 to 30 years. The other assets are depreciated using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives of the assets:

Buildings (in years)		25
Leasehold improvements (in years)	15	-	20
Machinery and equipment — manufacturing and drilling (in years)		10
Machinery and equipment — computers (in years)	3	-	5
Office equipment — furniture and fixtures (in years)	5	-	15
Office equipment — other (in years)	5	-	10
Vehicles (in years)	5	-	7

The cost and accumulated depreciation of items sold or retired are removed from the accounts. Any resulting gain or loss is recognized currently and recorded in the accompanying statements of operations.

The Company capitalizes interest costs as part of constructing power plant facilities. Such capitalized interest is recorded as part of the asset to which it relates and is amortized over the asset’s estimated useful life. Capitalized interest costs amounted to $3.3 million, $3.7 million, and $7.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Exploration and development costs

The Company capitalizes costs incurred in connection with the exploration and development of geothermal resources once it acquires land rights to the potential geothermal resource. Prior to acquiring land rights, the Company makes an initial assessment that an economically feasible geothermal reservoir is probable on that land. The Company determines the economic feasibility of potential geothermal resources internally, with all available data and external assessments vetted through the exploration department and occasionally using outside service providers. Costs associated with the initial assessment are expensed and included in cost of electricity revenues in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). Such costs were immaterial during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017. It normally takes two to three years from the time active exploration of a particular geothermal resource begins to the time a production well is in operation, assuming the resource is commercially viable. However, in certain sites the process may take longer due to permitting delays, transmission constraints or any other commercial milestones that are required to be reached in order to pursue the development process.

In most cases, the Company obtains the right to conduct the geothermal development and operations on land owned by the Bureau of Land Management ("BLM"), various states or with private parties. The up-front bonus payments and other related costs, such as legal fees, are capitalized and included in construction-in-process. The annual land lease payments made during the exploration, development and construction phase are expensed as incurred and included in “electricity cost of revenues” in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). Upon commencement of power generation on the leased land, the Company begins to pay the lessor’s long-term royalty payments based on the utilization of the geothermal resources as defined in the respective agreements. Such payments are expensed when the related revenues are earned and included in “electricity cost of revenues” in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

Following the acquisition of land rights to the potential geothermal resource, the Company conducts further studies and surveys, including water and soil analyses, among others, and augments its database with the results of these studies. The Company then initiates a suite of geophysical surveys to assess the resource and determine drilling locations. If the results of these activities support the initial assessment of the feasibility of the geothermal resource, the Company then proceeds to exploratory drilling and other related activities which may include drilling of temperature gradient holes, drilling of slim holes, building access roads to drilling locations, drilling full size production and/or injection wells and flow tests. If the slim hole supports a conclusion that the geothermal resource will support a commercially viable power plant, it may be converted to a full-size commercial well, used either for extraction or re-injection of geothermal fluids, or be used as an observation well to monitor and define the geothermal resource. Costs associated with these activities and other directly attributable costs, including interest once physical exploration activities begin and permitting costs are capitalized and included in “construction-in-process”. If the Company concludes that a geothermal resource will not support commercial operations, capitalized costs are expensed in the period such determination is made.

When deciding whether to continue holding lease rights and/or to pursue exploration activity, the Company diligently prioritizes prospective investments, taking into account resource and probability assessments in order to make informed decisions about whether a particular project will support commercial operation. As a result, write-off of unsuccessful activities for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $0.0 million, $0.1 million, and $1.8 million, respectively. In 2017, the write-offs included exploration costs related to the Company’s exploration activities in Oregon, after which the Company determined that the applicable sites would no longer support commercial operation.

Grants received from the U.S. DOE are offset against the related exploration and development costs. There were no such grants for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

All exploration and development costs that are being capitalized, including the up-front bonus payments made to secure land leases, will be depreciated over their estimated useful lives when the related geothermal power plant is substantially complete and ready for use. A geothermal power plant is substantially complete and ready for use when electricity generation commences.

Asset retirement obligation

The Company records the fair value of a legal liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period in which it is incurred. The Company’s legal liabilities include plugging wells and post-closure costs of power producing sites. When a new liability for asset retirement obligations is recorded, the Company capitalizes the costs of the liability by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. The liability is accreted to its present value each period, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. The Company periodically reassess the assumptions used to estimate the expected cash flows required to settle the asset retirement obligation, including changes in estimated probabilities, amounts, and timing of the settlement of the asset retirement obligation, as well as changes in the legal requirements of an obligation and revises the previously recorded asset retirement obligation accordingly. At retirement, the obligation is settled for its recorded amount at a gain or loss.

Deferred financing costs

Deferred financing costs are presented as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the associated debt liability or under deferred financing if associated with lines of credit. Such deferred costs are amortized over the term of the related obligation using the effective interest method or ratably, as applicable. Amortization of deferred financing costs is presented as interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). Accumulated amortization related to deferred financing costs amounted to $19.5 million and $21.8 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 amounted to $5.4 million, $4.6 million, and $5.7 million, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, amounts of $0.0 million, $0.0 million and $0.6 million, respectively, were written-off as a result of extinguishment of liabilities.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the fair value of consideration transferred in the business combination transactions of Guadeloupe and USG over the fair value of tangible and intangible assets acquired, net of the fair value of liabilities assumed and the fair value of any noncontrolling interest in the acquisitions. Goodwill is not amortized but rather subject to a periodic impairment testing on an annual basis (on December 31 of each year) or if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the reporting unit below its carrying amount. Additionally, an entity is permitted to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether a quantitative goodwill impairment test is necessary. Further testing is only required if the entity determines, based on the qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount. Otherwise, no further impairment testing is required. An entity has the option to bypass the qualitative assessment for any reporting unit in any period and proceed directly to step one of the quantitative goodwill impairment test. This would not preclude the entity from performing the qualitative assessment in any subsequent period. The first step compares the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350), which was adopted by the Company in 2018, under which step two of the goodwill impairment test was eliminated. Step two measured a goodwill impairment test by comparing the implied fair value of reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. Under ASU 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other, an entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value as calculated under step one described above. However, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. For further information relating to goodwill see Note 9 - Intangible assets and goodwill to the consolidated financial statements.

Intangible assets

Intangible assets consist of allocated acquisition costs of PPAs, which are amortized using the straight-line method over the 13 to 29-year terms of the agreements (see Note 9) as well as acquisition cost allocation related to Viridity’s storage activities that are amortized over a weighted average amortization period of 19 years. Intangible assets are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. In case there is no such events or change in circumstances, there is no need to perform the impairment testing. The recoverability is tested by comparing the net carrying value of the intangible assets to the undiscounted net cash flows to be generated from the use and eventual disposition of these assets. If the carrying amount of a long-lived asset (or asset group) is not recoverable, the fair value of the asset (asset group) is measured and if the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, an impairment loss is recognized.

Impairment of long-lived assets and long-lived assets to be disposed of

The Company evaluates long-lived assets, such as property, plant and equipment and construction-in-process for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Factors which could trigger an impairment include, among others, significant underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating results, significant changes in the Company’s use of assets or its overall business strategy, negative industry or economic trends, a determination that an exploration project will not support commercial operations, a determination that a suspended project is not likely to be completed, a significant increase in costs necessary to complete a project, legal factors relating to its business or when it concludes that it is more likely than not that an asset will be disposed of or sold.

The Company tests its operating plants that are operated together as a complex for impairment at the complex level because the cash flows of such plants result from significant shared operating activities. For example, the operating power plants in a complex are managed under a combined operation management generally with one central control room that controls all of the power plants in a complex and one maintenance group that services all of the power plants in a complex. As a result, the cash flows from individual plants within a complex are not largely independent of the cash flows of other plants within the complex. The Company tests for impairment its operating plants which are not operated as a complex as well as its projects under exploration, development or construction that are not part of an existing complex at the plant or project level. To the extent an operating plant becomes part of a complex, the Company will test for impairment at the complex level.

Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the estimated future net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. The significant assumptions that the Company uses in estimating its undiscounted future cash flows include: (i) projected generating capacity of the complex or power plant and rates to be received under the respective PPAs and expected market rates thereafter and (ii) projected operating expenses of the relevant complex or power plant. Estimates of future cash flows used to test recoverability of a long-lived asset under development also include cash flows associated with all future expenditures necessary to develop the asset.

If the assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds their fair value. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. Management believes that no impairment exists for long-lived assets; however, estimates as to the recoverability of such assets may change based on revised circumstances. If actual cash flows differ significantly from the Company’s current estimates, a material impairment charge may be required in the future.

Derivative instruments

Derivative instruments (including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts) are measured at their fair value and recorded as either assets or liabilities unless exempted from derivative treatment as a normal purchase and sale. All changes in the fair value of derivatives are recognized in earnings unless specific hedge criteria are met, which requires a company to formally document, designate and assess the effectiveness of transactions that receive hedge accounting.

The Company maintains a risk management strategy that may incorporate the use of swap contracts and put options on oil and natural gas prices, forward exchange contracts, interest rate swaps, and interest rate caps to minimize significant fluctuation in cash flows and/or earnings that are caused by oil and natural gas prices, exchange rate or interest rate volatility. Gains or losses on contracts that initially qualify for cash flow hedge accounting, net of related taxes, are included as a component of other comprehensive income or loss and accumulated other comprehensive income or loss are subsequently reclassified into earnings when the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. Gains or losses on contracts that are not designated as a cash flow hedge are included currently in earnings.

Foreign currency translation

The U.S. dollar is the functional currency for all of the Company’s consolidated operations and those of its equity affiliates except for the Guadeloupe power plant and the Company's operations in New Zealand. For those entities, all gains and losses from currency translations are included within the line item “Derivatives and foreign currency transaction gains (losses)” within the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). The Euro and New Zealand Dollar are the functional currencies of the Guadeloupe power plant and the Company's operations in New Zealand, respectively, and thus gains and losses from currency translation adjustments in those locations are included as currency translation adjustments in accumulated other comprehensive income in the consolidated statements of equity and in comprehensive income. The accumulated currency translation adjustments amounted to $1.5 million and $0.0 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Comprehensive income (loss) reporting

Comprehensive income (loss) includes net income or loss plus other comprehensive income (loss), which for the Company consists of changes in unrealized gains or losses in respect of the Company’s share in derivatives instruments of an unconsolidated investment, foreign currency translation adjustments and changes in respect of derivative instruments designated as a cash flow hedge. The changes in foreign currency translation adjustments and gains or losses in respect of derivative instruments designated as a cash flow hedge during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 were immaterial. The change in the Company’s share in derivative instruments of unconsolidated investment is disclosed under Note 5 – Investment in unconsolidated companies to the consolidated financial statements.

Revenues and cost of revenues

Upon adoption of ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) on January 1, 2018, revenues from contracts with customers are recognized in connection with the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Specifically, the Company is required to apply each of the following steps: (1) identify the contract(s) with the customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contracts; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.

Revenues are primarily related to: (i) sale of electricity from geothermal and recovered energy-based power plants owned and operated by the Company; (ii) geothermal and recovered energy-based power plant equipment engineering, sale, construction and installation, and operating services and (iii) energy storage, demand-response and energy management related services as well as services relating to the engineering, procurement, construction, operation and maintenance of energy storage units.

Electricity segment revenues: Revenues related to the sale of electricity from geothermal and recovered energy-based power plants and capacity payments are recorded based upon output delivered and capacity provided at rates specified under relevant contract terms. For PPAs agreed to, modified, or acquired in business combinations on or after July 1, 2003, the Company determines whether such PPAs contain a lease element requiring lease accounting. Revenue from such PPAs are accounted for in electricity revenues. The lease element of the PPAs is also assessed in accordance with the revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables guidance, which requires that revenues be allocated to the separate earnings processes based on their relative fair value. PPAs with minimum lease rentals which vary over time are generally recognized on the straight-line basis over the term of the PPAs. PPAs with contingent rentals are recognized when earned. In the Electricity segment, revenues for all but five power plants are accounted as operating leases, and therefore equipment related to geothermal and recovered energy generation power plants as described in Note 8 is considered held for leasing. For power plants in the scope of ASC 606, the Company identified electricity as a separate performance obligation. Performance obligations identified were evaluated and determined to be satisfied over time and qualified for the invoicing practical expedient since the invoiced amounts reasonably represented the value to customers of performance obligations fulfilled to date. The transaction price is determined based on the price per actual mega-watt output or available capacity as agreed to in the respective PPA. Customers are generally billed on a monthly basis and payment is typically due within 30 to 60 days after the issuance of the invoice.

Product segment revenues: Revenues from engineering, operating services, and parts and product sales are recorded upon providing the service or delivery of the products and parts and when collectability is reasonably assured. Revenues from the supply and/or construction of geothermal and recovered energy-based power plant equipment and other equipment to third parties are recognized over time since control is transferred continuously to the Company's customers. The majority of the Company's contracts include a single performance obligation which is essentially the promise to transfer the individual goods or services that are not separately identifiable from other promises in the contracts and therefore deemed as not distinct. Performance obligations are satisfied over-time if the customer receives the benefits as we perform work, if the customer controls the asset as it is being constructed, or if the product being produced for the customer has no alternative use and the Company has a contractual right to payment. In the Company's Product segment, revenues are spread over a period of one to two years and are recognized over time based on the cost incurred to date in ratio to total estimated costs which represents the input method that best depicts the transfer of control over the performance obligation to the customer. Costs include direct material, labor, and indirect costs. Provisions for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts are made in the period in which such losses are determined.

In contracts for which the Company determines that control is not transferred continuously to the customer, the Company recognizes revenues at the point in time when the customer obtains control of the asset. Revenues for such contracts are recorded upon delivery and acceptance by the customer. This generally is the case for the sale of spare parts, generators or similar products.

Accounting for product contracts that are satisfied over time includes use of several estimates such as variable consideration related to bonuses and penalties and total estimated cost for completing the contract. The estimated amount of variable consideration will be included in the transaction price only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved. These estimates are based on historical experience, anticipated performance and the Company's best judgment at the time.

The nature of the Company's product contracts give rise to several modifications or change requests by its customers. Substantially all of the modifications are treated as cumulative catch-ups to revenues since the additional goods are not distinct from those already provided. The Company includes the additional revenues related to the modifications in its transaction price when both parties to the contract approved the modification. As a significant change in one or more of these estimates could affect the profitability of the Company's contracts, the Company reviews and updates its contract-related estimates regularly. If at any time the estimate of contract profitability indicates an anticipated loss on the contract, the Company recognizes the total loss in the period in which it is identified.

Energy Storage and Management Services segment revenues: Battery energy storage systems as a service, demand-response and energy management related services revenues are recorded based on energy management of load curtailment capacity delivered or service provided at rates specified under the relevant contract terms. The Company determined that such revenues are in the scope of ASC 606 and identified energy management services as a separate performance obligation. Performance obligations are satisfied once the Company provides verification to the electric power grid operator or utility of its ability to meet the committed capacity, the power curtailment requirements or the ancillary services and thus entitled to cash proceeds. Such verification may be provided by the Company bi-weekly, monthly or under any other frequency as set by the related program and are typically followed by a payment shortly after. Performance obligations identified were evaluated and determined to be satisfied over time and qualified for the invoicing practical expedient since the amounts included in the verification document reasonably represent the value of performance obligations fulfilled to date. The transaction price is determined based on mechanisms specified in the contract with the customer.

The Company's accounting policy for revenues included under the 2017 comparative period were accounted under the previous accounting standard as follows:

Revenues related to the sale of electricity from geothermal and recovered energy-based power plants and capacity payments are recorded based upon output delivered and capacity provided at rates specified under relevant contract terms. For PPAs agreed to, modified, or acquired in business combinations on or after July 1, 2003, the Company determines whether such PPAs contain a lease element requiring lease accounting. Revenue from such PPAs are accounted for in electricity revenues. The lease element of the PPAs is also assessed in accordance with the revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables guidance, which requires that revenues be allocated to the separate earnings processes based on their relative fair value. PPAs with minimum lease rentals which vary over time are generally recognized on the straight-line basis over the term of the PPAs. PPAs with contingent rentals are recognized when earned. In the electricity segment, revenues for all but five power plants are accounted as operating leases, and therefore equipment related to geothermal and recovered energy generation power plants as described in Note 8 is considered held for leasing.

Revenues from engineering, operating services, and parts and product sales are recorded upon providing the service or delivery of the products and parts and when collectability is reasonably assured. Revenues from the supply and/or construction of geothermal and recovered energy-based power plant equipment and other equipment to third parties are recognized using the percentage-of-completion method. Revenue is recognized based on the percentage relationship that incurred costs bear to total estimated costs. Costs include direct material, labor, and indirect costs. Selling, marketing, general, and administrative costs are charged to expense as incurred. Provisions for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts are made in the period in which such losses are determined. Changes in job performance, job conditions, and estimated profitability, including those arising from contract penalty provisions and final contract settlements, may result in revisions to costs and revenues and are recognized in the period in which the revisions are determined.

In specific instances where there is a lack of dependable estimates or inherent risks that may cause the forecast to be doubtful, then the completed-contract method is followed. Revenue is recognized when the contract is substantially complete and when collectability is reasonably assured. Costs that are closely associated with the project are deferred as contract costs and recognized similarly to the associated revenues.

Contract assets related to the Company's Product segment reflect revenues recognized and performance obligations satisfied in advance of customer billing. Contract liabilities related to the Company's Product segment reflect payments received in advance of the satisfaction of performance under the contract. The Company receives payments from customers based on the terms established in the contracts. Total contract assets and contract liabilities as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 are as follows.

	December 31,			December 31,
	2019			2018
	(Dollars in thousands)
Contract assets (*)	$	38,365		$	42,130
Contract liabilities (*)		(2,755	)		(18,402	)
Contract assets, net	$	35,610		$	23,728

(*) Contract assets and contract liabilities are presented as "Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts" and "Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts", respectively, on the consolidated balance sheets. The contract liabilities balance at the beginning of the year was fully recognized as product revenues during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 as a result of performance obligations satisfied.

The following table presents the significant changes in the contract assets and contract liabilities for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2019						2018
	Contract assets			Contract liabilities			Contract assets			Contract liabilities
	(Dollars in thousands)
Recognition of contract liabilities as revenue as a result of performance obligations satisfied	$	—		$	12,675		$	—		$	33,349
Cash received in advance for which revenues have not yet recognized, net of expenditures made		—			(3,323	)		—			(38,162	)
Reduction of contract assets as a result of rights to consideration becoming unconditional		(130,918	)		—			(128,659	)		—
Contract assets recognized, net of recognized receivables		133,448			—			136,496			—
Net change in contract assets and contract liabilities	$	2,530		$	9,352		$	7,837		$	(4,813	)

The timing of revenue recognition, billings and cash collections results in accounts receivable, contract assets and contract liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. In the Company's Products segment, amounts are billed as work progresses in accordance with agreed-upon contractual terms, or upon achievement of contractual milestones. Generally, billing occurs subsequent to the recognition of revenue, resulting in contract assets. However, the Company sometimes receives advances or deposits from its customers before revenue can be recognized, resulting in contract liabilities. These assets and liabilities are reported on the consolidated balance sheet on a contract-by-contract basis at the end of each reporting period. The timing of billing its customers and receiving advance payments vary from contract to contract.  The majority of payments are received no later than the completion of the project and satisfaction of the Company's performance obligation.

On December 31, 2019, the Company had approximately $139.3 million of remaining performance obligations not yet satisfied or partly satisfied related to its Product segment. The Company expects to recognize approximately 100% of this amount as Product revenues during the next 24 months.

The following schedule reconciles revenues accounted under lease accounting, and ASC 606, Revenues from Contracts with Customers, to total consolidated revenues for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2019		2018
	(Dollars in thousands)
Electricity Revenues accounted under lease accounting	$	479,059	$	481,619
Electricity, Product and Energy Storage and Management Services revenues accounted under ASC 606		266,985		237,648
Total consolidated revenues	$	746,044	$	719,267

Disaggregated revenues from contracts with customers for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 are disclosed under Note 19 - Business Segments, to the consolidated financial statements.

Termination fee

Fees to terminate PPAs are recognized in the period incurred as selling and marketing expenses. During 2018, the Company signed a termination agreement with NV Energy, Inc. for the Galena 2 PPA under which it agreed to pay a termination fee of approximately $5 million which was recorded under Selling and marketing expenses in 2018. In 2019 and 2017, no termination fees were incurred.

Warranty on products sold

The Company generally provides a one to two years warranty against defects in workmanship and materials related to the sale of products for electricity generation. The Company considers the warranty to be an assurance type warranty since the warranty provides the customer the assurance that the product complies with agreed-upon specifications. Estimated future warranty obligations are included in operating expenses in the period in which the related revenue is recognized. Such charges are immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

Research and development

Research and development costs incurred by the Company for the development of existing and new geothermal and recovered energy power plants as well as storage related technologies are expensed as incurred. Grants received from the DOE are offset against the related research and development expenses. There were no such grants for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

Stock-based compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation using the fair value method whereby compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the calculated fair value of the award, and is recognized as an expense over the requisite employee service period (generally the vesting period of the grant). The Company uses the Exercise Multiple-Based Lattice SAR-Pricing Model to value the stock-based compensation awards to reflect accumulated historic data retained of behavioral parameters.

Tax monetization Transactions

The Company has three tax monetization transactions, Opal Geo, Tungsten and McGinness Hills 3 as further described under Note 13 – tax monetization transactions to the consolidated financial statements. The OPC and ORTP tax monetization transactions terminated during 2017 upon the Company’s partners reaching their target after-tax yield on their investment, as further described in Note 13. The purpose of these transactions is to form tax partnerships, whereby investors provide cash in exchange for equity interests that provide the holder a right to the majority of tax benefits associated with a renewable energy project.  The Company accounts for a portion of the proceeds from the transaction as debt under ASC 470.  Given that a portion of these transactions is structured as a purchase of an equity interest the Company also classifies a portion as noncontrolling interest consistent with guidance in ASC 810. The portion recorded to noncontrolling interest is initially measured as the fair value of the discounted tax attributes and cash distributions which represents the partner's residual economic interest. The residual proceeds are recognized as the initial carrying value of the debt which is classified as a liability associated with sale tax benefits. The Company applies the effective interest rate method to the liability associated with the tax monetization transaction component as described by ASC 835 and CON 7.  The tax benefits and cash distributions realized by the partner each period are treated as the debt servicing amounts, with the tax benefit amounts giving rise to income attributable to the sale of tax benefits.  The deferred transaction costs have been capitalized and amortized using the effective interest method.

Income taxes 

Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability approach, which requires the recognition of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s financial statements or tax returns. The measurement of current and deferred tax assets and liabilities are based on provisions of the enacted tax law. The Company accounts for investment tax credits and production tax credits as a reduction to income taxes in the year in which the credit arises. The measurement of deferred tax assets is reduced, if necessary, by the amount of any tax benefits that, based on available evidence, are  more likely than not expected to be realized. A partial valuation allowance has been established to offset the Company’s U.S. deferred tax assets. Tax benefits from uncertain tax positions are recognized only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. Interest and penalties assessed by taxing authorities on an underpayment of income taxes are included as a component of income tax provision in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.

Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share attributable to the Company’s stockholders (“earnings per share”) is computed by dividing net income or loss attributable to the Company’s stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. The Company does not have any equity instruments that are dilutive, except for stock-based awards.

The table below shows the reconciliation of the number of shares used in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2019		2018		2017
	(In thousands)
Weighted average number of shares used in computation of basic earnings per share		50,867		50,643		50,110
Add:
Additional shares from the assumed exercise of employee stock options		360		326		659
Weighted average number of shares used in computation of diluted earnings per share		51,227		50,969		50,769

The number of stock-based awards that could potentially dilute future earnings per share and were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because to do so would have been anti-dilutive was 360.5 thousand, 176.4 thousand, and 42.9 thousand, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

Use of estimates in preparation of financial statements

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP  requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of such financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant estimates with regard to the Company’s consolidated financial statements relate to the useful lives of property, plant and equipment, impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets, including intangible assets, revenue recognition of product sales using the percentage of completion method, asset retirement obligations, and the provision for income taxes.

Redeemable noncontrolling interest

Changes in the carrying amount of the Company's Redeemable noncontrolling interest were as follows:

	2019			2018
	(Dollars in thousands)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest as of January 1,	$	8,603		$	6,416
Redeemable noncontrolling interest in results of operation of a consolidated subsidiary		1,132			990
Cash paid to noncontrolling interest		(252	)		—
Increase in share of redeemable noncontrolling interest		—			1,528
Currency translation adjustments		(233	)		(331	)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest as of December 31,	$	9,250		$	8,603

Puna Power Plant

On May 3, 2018, the Kilauea volcano located in close proximity to the Company's Puna 38 MW geothermal power plant in the Puna district of Hawaii's Big Island erupted following a significant increase in seismic activity in the area. Before it stopped flowing, the lava covered the wellheads of three geothermal wells, monitoring wells and the substation of the Puna complex and an adjacent warehouse that stored a drilling rig that was also consumed by the lava. The insurance policy coverage for property and business interruption is provided by a consortium of insurers. All the insurers accepted and started paying for the costs to rebuild the destroyed substation, and during 2019, the Company received an additional $1.1 million of such proceeds. However, only some of the insurers accepted that the business interruption coverage started in May 2018 and during 2019, the Company received and recorded an additional $9.3 million of such proceeds, which were included under cost of revenues in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2019. The Company has filed a lawsuit against the insurers that do not accept its claim.

As of February 2020, the reconstruction efforts at Puna continue. Permits that are required for the construction and operation of the substation are delayed and currently expected during the first half of 2020. HELCO continue with their efforts to complete the upgrade of the transmission network. On the field side, the Company completed the drilling of one production well that was blocked immediately after flow test of the well. The Company continues its field recovery work, which includes redrilling of existing wells, cleanouts and drilling of new wells and expects initial power generation for testing during the second quarter of 2020. Commercial operation of the full generating capacity of the Puna power plant is expected in the third quarter of 2020 assuming all permits are received, transmission network upgrade is complete and field recovery is successfully achieved.

The Company continues to assess the accounting implications of this event on the assets and liabilities on its balance sheet and whether an impairment will be required. Any significant damage to the geothermal resource or continued shut-down following the lava event at the Puna facilities could have an adverse impact on the power plant's electricity generation and availability, which in turn could have a material adverse impact on the Company's business and results of operations. 

New Accounting Pronouncements

New accounting pronouncements effective in the year ended December 31, 2019

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This new standard introduced a number of changes and simplified previous guidance, primarily the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases. The new standard retained the distinction between finance leases and operating leases and the classification criteria between the two types remains substantially similar. Also, lessor accounting remained largely unchanged from previous guidance. However, key aspects of the new standard were aligned with the revenue recognition guidance in Topic 606. Additionally, the new standard defined a lease as a contract, or part of a contract, that conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Control over the use of the identified asset means that the customer has both (a) the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of the asset and (b) the right to direct the use of the asset. The Company adopted this new standard as of January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective approach and accordingly recognized a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings, which was an immaterial amount, with no restatement of comparative information.

The Company is a lessee in operating lease transactions primarily consisting of land leases for its exploration and development activities as further described under Exploration and development costs above and the Puna power plant transaction as further described under Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements. Additionally, the Company is a lessee in finance lease transactions primarily consisting of fleet vehicles and office rentals. As further described above under Revenues and cost of revenues, the Company acts as a lessor in PPAs that are accounted under ASC 842, Leases.

In accordance with the new standard, for agreements in which the Company is the lessee, the Company applies a unified accounting model by which it recognizes a right-of-use asset ("ROU") and a lease liability at the commencement date of the lease contract for all the leases in which the Company has a right to control identified assets for a specified period of time. The classification of the lease as a finance lease or an operating lease determines the subsequent accounting for the lease arrangement.

Upon the adoption of the new standard the Company, both as a lessee and as a lessor, chose to apply the following permitted practical expedients:

1. Not reassess whether any existing contracts are or contain a lease;

2. Not reassess the classification of leases that commenced before the effective date (for example, all existing leases that were classified as operating leases in accordance with Topic 840 will continue to be classified as operating leases, and all existing leases that were classified as capital leases in accordance with Topic 840 will continue to be classified as finance leases);

3. Exclude initial direct costs from measurement of the ROU asset at the date of initial application;

4. Applying the practical expedient (for a lessor) to not separate non-lease components accounted for under Topic 606 from lease components and, instead, to account for each separate lease component and the non-lease components associated with that lease component as a single component. If the non-lease components are the predominant components, the Company will account for the combined component as a single performance obligation entirely in accordance with Topic 606. Otherwise, the combined component will be accounted as an operating lease entirely in accordance with the new standard.

5. Applying the practical expedient (for a lessee) regarding the recognition and measurement of short-term leases, for leases for a period of up to 12 months from the commencement date. Instead, the Company will continue to recognize the lease payments for those leases in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Since the Company elected to apply the practical expedients above, it applied the new standard to all contracts entered into before January 1, 2019 and identified as leases in accordance with Topic 840.

The new significant accounting policies regarding leases that were applied as from January 1, 2019 following the application of the new standard are as follows:

1.  Determining whether an arrangement contains a lease

On the inception date of the lease, the Company determines whether the arrangement is a lease or contains a lease, while examining if it conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration.

2.  The Company as a lessee

a.  Lease classification:

At the commencement date, a lease is a finance lease if it meets any one of the criteria below; otherwise the lease is an operating lease:

• The lease transfers ownership of the underlying asset to the lessee by the end of the lease term.

• The lease grants the lessee an option to purchase the underlying asset that the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise.

• The lease term is for the major part of the remaining economic life of the underlying asset.

• The present value of the sum of the lease payments and any residual value guaranteed by the lessee that is not already reflected in the lease payments equals or exceeds substantially all of the fair value of the underlying asset.

• The underlying asset is of such a specialized nature that it is expected to have no alternative use to the lessor at the end of lease term.

b.  Leased assets and lease liabilities - initial recognition

Upon initial recognition, the Company recognizes a liability at the present value of the lease payments to be made over the lease term, and concurrently recognizes a ROU asset at the same amount of the liability, adjusted for any prepaid or accrued lease payments, plus initial direct costs incurred in respect of the lease. Since the interest rate implicit in the lease is not readily determinable, the incremental borrowing rate of the Company is used. The subsequent measurement depends of whether the lease is classified as a finance lease or an operating lease.

c.  The lease term

The lease term is the non-cancellable period of the lease plus periods covered by an extension or termination option if it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise the option.

d. Subsequent measurement of operating leases

After lease commencement, the Company measures the lease liability at the present value of the remaining lease payments using the discount rate determined at lease commencement (as long as the discount rate has not been updated as a result of a reassessment event).

The Company subsequently measures the ROU asset at the present value of the remaining lease payments, adjusted for the remaining balance of any lease incentives received, any cumulative prepaid or accrued rent if the lease payments are uneven throughout the lease term and any unamortized initial direct costs.

Further, the Company will recognize lease expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

e. Subsequent measurement of finance leases

After lease commencement, the Company measures the lease liability by increasing the carrying amount to reflect interest on the lease liability and reducing the carrying amount to reflect the lease payments made during the period. The Company shall determine the interest on the lease liability in each period during the lease term as the amount that produces a constant periodic discount rate on the remaining balance of the liability, taking into consideration the reassessment requirements.

After lease commencement, the Company measures the ROU assets at cost less any accumulated amortization and any accumulated impairment losses, taking into consideration the reassessment requirements. The Company amortizes the ROU asset on a straight-line basis, unless another systematic basis better represents the pattern in which the Company expects to consume the ROU asset’s future economic benefits. The ROU asset is amortized over the shorter of the lease term or the useful life of the ROU asset as follows:

	(in years)
Land		1	-	35
Vehicles			5
Building			15

The total periodic expense (the sum of interest and amortization expense) of a finance lease is typically higher in the early periods and lower in the later periods.

f. Variable lease payments:

Variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate

On the commencement date, the lease payments shall include variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate (such as the Consumer Price Index or a market interest rate), initially measured using the index or rate at the commencement date.

The Company does not remeasure the lease liability for changes in future lease payments arising from changes in an index or rate unless the lease liability is remeasured for another reason. Therefore, after initial recognition, such variable lease payments are recognized in profit or loss as they are incurred.

Other variable lease payments:

Variable payments that depends on performance or use of the underlying asset are not included in the lease payments. Such variable payments are recognized in profit or loss in the period in which the event or condition that triggers the payment occurs.

3.  The Company as a lessor

At lease commencement, the Company as a lessor classifies leases as either finance or operating leases. Finance leases are further classified as a sales-type lease or as a direct financing lease.

Under an operating lease, the Company recognizes the lease payment as income over the lease term, generally on a straight-line basis or as earned.

4. Impact of the new standard

a) The effects of the initial application of the new standard on the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of January 1, 2019 are as follows:

	According to the previous accounting policy		The change			As presented according to Topic 842
	(Dollars in thousands)
As of January 1, 2019:
Prepaid expenses and other	$	51,441	$	(35,385	)	$	16,056
Deferred financing and lease costs, net		3,242		(1,659	)		1,583
Property, plant and equipment, net		1,959,578		(12,855	)		1,946,723
Operating leases right of use		—		62,244			62,244
Finance leases right of use		—		13,476			13,476
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		116,362		(2,860	)		113,502
Current maturity of operating lease liabilities		—		7,532			7,532
Current maturity of finance lease liabilities		—		2,841			2,841
Other long-term liabilities		16,087		(9,970	)		6,117
Long term portion of operating lease liabilities		—		17,668			17,668
Long term portion of finance lease liabilities		—		10,668			10,668
Retained earnings		422,222		(58	)		422,164

The operating leases right of use is higher than the related lease liabilities as a result of prepayments of leases, including the Puna lease and deferred financing lease costs.

b)  A weighted-average nominal incremental interest rate of 5% and 7% was used to discount future lease payments in the calculation of the lease liabilities in respect of operating leases and in respect of finance leases, respectively.

Derivatives and Hedging

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The amendments in this update better align an entity’s risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging relationships through changes to both the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedging relationships and the presentation of hedge results. To meet that objective, the amendments expand and refine hedge accounting for both nonfinancial and financial risk components and align the recognition and presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the hedged item in the financial statements. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220). The amendments in this update allow a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Tax Act”). The guidance is effective for the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

New accounting pronouncements effective in future periods

Financial Instruments - Credit Losses

In  June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326)-Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This guidance replaces the current incurred loss impairment methodology. Under the new guidance, on initial recognition and at each reporting period, an entity is required to recognize an allowance that reflects its current estimate of credit losses expected to be incurred over the life of the financial instrument based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-19, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses. ASU 2018-19 clarifies that receivables from operating leases are accounted for using the lease guidance and not as financial instruments. The guidance is effective beginning on  January 1, 2020, including interim periods within that year and requires a modified retrospective transition approach through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. Under the modified retrospective method of adoption, prior year reported results are not restated. The Company has analyzed the impact of its financial instruments that are within the scope of this guidance, primarily receivables and costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts, and believes that the cumulative adjustment to retained earnings will have an immaterial effect on its consolidated financial statements.

Accounting for Income Taxes

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes.  ASU 2019- 12 is intended to simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in ASC 740. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within. Early adoption permitted. The Company has not early adopted ASU 2019-12 as of December 31, 2019.  The Company does not anticipate ASU 2019-12 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.