LOSS PER SHARE (Details 2) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Aug. 11, 2014	Mar. 07, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Transactions
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)			$ 0.01		$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Purchase price					$ (4)
Weighted-average shares outstanding			18,089,137	8,756,022	18,077,142	12,084,369
Dutch auction tender offer
Transactions
Number of shares repurchased		5,203,986
Purchase price (in dollars per share)		$ 4.62
Share Purchase Agreement | ZHEN FA New Energy (U.S.) Co. Ltd. (Purchaser)
Transactions
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
STR Holdings Incorporated | Share Purchase Agreement | ZHEN FA New Energy (U.S.) Co. Ltd. (Purchaser)
Transactions
Percentage of outstanding shares upon closing of transaction (as a percent)	51.00%