TRANSACTION WITH ZHEN FA NEW ENERGY (U.S.) CO., LTD. AND ZHENFA ENERGY GROUP CO., LTD (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands			6 Months Ended
	Dec. 11, 2014	Aug. 11, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Transaction with Zhen Fa New Energy (U.S.) Co., Ltd. and Zhenfa Energy Group Co., Ltd.
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)			$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Purchase price			$ (4)
Special Dividend Declared
Transaction with Zhen Fa New Energy (U.S.) Co., Ltd. and Zhenfa Energy Group Co., Ltd.
Dividend payable on common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 2.55
Share Purchase Agreement | ZHEN FA New Energy (U.S.) Co. Ltd. (Purchaser)
Transaction with Zhen Fa New Energy (U.S.) Co., Ltd. and Zhenfa Energy Group Co., Ltd.
Number of shares issued		9,210,710
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)		$ 0.01
Purchase price		$ 21,664
Price per share (in dollars per share)		$ 2.35
ZHEN FA New Energy (U.S.) Co. Ltd. (Purchaser) | Share Purchase Agreement | STR Holdings Incorporated
Transaction with Zhen Fa New Energy (U.S.) Co., Ltd. and Zhenfa Energy Group Co., Ltd.
Percentage of outstanding shares upon closing of transaction (as a percent)		51.00%