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Capital Structure - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
0 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 2 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Apr. 16, 2014
Apr. 14, 2014
Aug. 31, 2008
Mar. 31, 2015
Sep. 30, 2013
Dec. 31, 2010
Nov. 30, 2009
Aug. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]                    
Business acquisition, merger agreement date       Apr. 16, 2014            
Exchanged number of common stock 3,946,701us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionEquityInterestsIssuedOrIssuableNumberOfSharesIssued                  
Common stock, voting rights       The class B restricted voting shares are convertible into voting common shares on a one-for-one basis at the option of the holder thereof at any time after July 15, 2014.            
Number of shares issued on Private placement 6,125,000us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues                  
Common stock price per share $ 3.64us-gaap_SaleOfStockPricePerShare                  
Private placement offering of equity securities aggregate gross proceeds $ 22,273,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfPrivatePlacement                  
Percentage of placement agent fee 6.00%nrthf_PercentageOfAggregatePlacementAgentFee                  
Cash commissions and other expenses paid to private placement 1,522,000nrthf_PaymentOfExpensesRelatedToIssuanceOfPrivatePlacement                  
Percentage of purchase price common stock shares 6.00%us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardPurchasePriceOfCommonStockPercent                  
Number of exercisable option shares sold in offering 367,500us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber                  
Exercise option price per share $ 3.64us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice                  
Stock option expected term 2 years     4 years 6 months            
Percentage of volatility rate 87.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate                  
Expected term of stock option 2 years                  
Stock option exercisable period 2 years                  
Legal, accounting and printing fees 1,128,000us-gaap_PaymentsForFees                  
Common stock, shares issued     14,683us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued              
Stock split, conversion ratio   0.6420084us-gaap_StockholdersEquityNoteStockSplitConversionRatio1                
Stock Split, conversion basis       On April 14, 2014, each of the 20,000,075 shares of WPHI common stock issued and outstanding were automatically combined, reclassified and changed into 0.6420084 of one fully paid and non-assessable common shares resulting in a post-split total of 12,840,187 shares, without any action on the part of the holder thereof.            
Reverse stock split       1 for 11.6087            
Reverse stock split approval date       Sep. 10, 2013            
Effective date of stock split       Sep. 16, 2013            
Common stock, shares, issued 629,061us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentSharesIssued1       6,400,000us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentSharesIssued1          
Addition to convertible notes outstanding 3,634,000us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentAmount1       5,250,000us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentAmount1          
Value of preferred stock converted into common stock       50,000,000nrthf_ConversionOfPreferredStockIntoCommonStockValue            
Preferred stock, shares authorized       6,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized            
Proceeds from issuance of stock     17,700,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOrSaleOfEquity              
Warrant to purchase preferred stock, exercise price               $ 0.50us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisePriceOfWarrantsOrRights1    
Convertible Notes [Member]                    
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]                    
Convertible notes, interest rate       6.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
           
Convertible notes maturity date       Jun. 30, 2014            
Aggregate proceeds from equity financing       10,000,000nrthf_MinimumAmountOfProceedsFromEquityFinancing
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
           
Aggregate principal amount of convertible notes percentage       60.00%nrthf_PercentageOfPrincipalAmountOfConvertibleNotes
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
           
Mira III [Member]                    
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]                    
Common stock, shares outstanding 359,375us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncMember
                 
Stock option outstanding 43,125us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncMember
                 
Wind Power Holdings Inc [Member]                    
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]                    
Common stock, shares outstanding 12,840,187us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= nrthf_WindPowerHoldingsIncMember
              0us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= nrthf_WindPowerHoldingsIncMember
 
Exchanged number of common stock 1,016,534us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionEquityInterestsIssuedOrIssuableNumberOfSharesIssued
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= nrthf_WindPowerHoldingsIncMember
                 
Conversion of senior secured convertible notes to common stock 12,320,000us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueConversionOfConvertibleSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= nrthf_WindPowerHoldingsIncMember
                 
Common stock, shares authorized                   44,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= nrthf_WindPowerHoldingsIncMember
Common stock, par value                   $ 0.01us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= nrthf_WindPowerHoldingsIncMember
Minimum [Member]                    
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]                    
Investors rights percentage       50.00%nrthf_CommonStockHoldByInvestorUnderStockPurchaseAgreement
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
           
Common Stock Options [Member]                    
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]                    
Options fair value $ 620us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis
= us-gaap_StockOptionMember
                 
Reverse Take Over [Member]                    
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]                    
Common stock, shares outstanding                 22,764,353us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= nrthf_ReverseTakeOverMember
 
Common stock, no par value                     
Common stock value       133,963,000us-gaap_CommonStockValue
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= nrthf_ReverseTakeOverMember
           
Common stock, shares issued                 22,764,353us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= nrthf_ReverseTakeOverMember
 
Reverse Stock Split [Member] | Wind Power Holdings Inc [Member]                    
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]                    
Common stock, shares outstanding   20,000,075us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= nrthf_WindPowerHoldingsIncMember
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= nrthf_ReverseStockSplitMember
               
Common stock, shares issued   20,000,075us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= nrthf_WindPowerHoldingsIncMember
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= nrthf_ReverseStockSplitMember
               
Post Stock Split [Member]                    
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]                    
Common stock, shares outstanding       12,840,187us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= nrthf_PostStockSplitMember
           
Common stock, shares issued       12,840,187us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= nrthf_PostStockSplitMember
           
Mira III [Member]                    
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]                    
Common stock, no par value       $ 0us-gaap_CommonStockNoParValue
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncMember
           
Reduction in APIC (1,410,000)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncMember
    1,410,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncMember
           
Class B Restricted Voting Common Shares [Member]                    
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]                    
Exchanged number of common stock 8,893,486us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionEquityInterestsIssuedOrIssuableNumberOfSharesIssued
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= nrthf_ClassbRestrictedVotingCommonShareMember
                 
Common stock, shares, issued 1,678,786us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentSharesIssued1
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= nrthf_ClassbRestrictedVotingCommonShareMember
                 
Class B Restricted Voting Common Shares [Member] | Wind Power Holdings Inc [Member]                    
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]                    
Exchanged number of common stock 2,368,221us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionEquityInterestsIssuedOrIssuableNumberOfSharesIssued
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= nrthf_WindPowerHoldingsIncMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= nrthf_ClassbRestrictedVotingCommonShareMember
                 
Class B Restricted Voting Common Shares [Member] | Reverse Take Over [Member]                    
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]                    
Common stock, shares outstanding                 0us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= nrthf_ReverseTakeOverMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= nrthf_ClassbRestrictedVotingCommonShareMember
 
Common stock, shares issued                 0us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
/ us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis
= nrthf_ReverseTakeOverMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= nrthf_ClassbRestrictedVotingCommonShareMember
 
Series X-1 Preferred Stock [Member]                    
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]                    
Preferred stock, shares authorized       3,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= nrthf_SeriesXonePreferredStockMember
           
Series X-2 Preferred Stock [Member]                    
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]                    
Preferred stock, shares authorized       3,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= nrthf_SeriesXtwoPreferredStockMember
           
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]                    
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]                    
Preferred stock, shares issued     3,540,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesIssued
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_SeriesAPreferredStockMember
             
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]                    
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]                    
Preferred stock, shares issued           2,121,707us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesIssued
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_SeriesBPreferredStockMember
7,286,232us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesIssued
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_SeriesBPreferredStockMember
     
Preferred stock, per share             $ 6.00us-gaap_PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_SeriesBPreferredStockMember
     
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock           12,730,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfPreferredStockAndPreferenceStock
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_SeriesBPreferredStockMember
43,532,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfPreferredStockAndPreferenceStock
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_SeriesBPreferredStockMember
     
Stock issuance costs             185,000us-gaap_PaymentsOfStockIssuanceCosts
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_SeriesBPreferredStockMember
     
Series C-2 Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]                    
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]                    
Preferred stock, per share               $ 6.30us-gaap_PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= nrthf_SeriesC2PreferredStockMember
   
Warrants to purchase shares               6,433,288us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfSecuritiesCalledByWarrantsOrRights
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= nrthf_SeriesC2PreferredStockMember
   
Series C-2 Convertible Preferred Stock [Member] | Convertible Preferred Stock Warrants [Member]                    
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]                    
Stock issuance costs               115,000us-gaap_PaymentsOfStockIssuanceCosts
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= nrthf_SeriesC2PreferredStockMember
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_WarrantMember
   
Aggregate cash consideration               $ 10,016,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfWarrants
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= nrthf_SeriesC2PreferredStockMember
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_WarrantMember
   
Convertible Series C-1 Preferred Stock [Member]                    
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]                    
Conversion feature description       Upon the closing of the September offering, the shares of the Company's formerly outstanding Series C-1 preferred stock held by investors participating in this note financing were converted into additional notes at the rate of one dollar face amount of convertible note for every three dollars in liquidation preference of Series C-1 preferred stock.            
Preferred stock, shares issued               1,608,322us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesIssued
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= nrthf_SeriesC1PreferredStockMember
   
Preferred stock, per share               $ 6.30us-gaap_PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= nrthf_SeriesC1PreferredStockMember
   
Series X Preferred Stock [Member]                    
Conversion of Stock [Line Items]                    
Stock option expiration date       Apr. 16, 2014