XML 44 R53.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Stock Based Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans - Summary of Stock Option Activity (Detail)
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Apr. 16, 2014
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
2014 NPS Corp Plan [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
2014 NPS Corp Plan [Member]
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2015
Mira III Stock Option Awards [Member]
CAD
Dec. 31, 2014
Mira III Stock Option Awards [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Mira III Stock Option Awards [Member]
CAD
Mar. 31, 2015
Mira III Stock Option Awards [Member]
USD ($)
Apr. 16, 2014
Mira III Stock Option Awards [Member]
CAD
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]                
Shares Outstanding, Beginning balance   2,403,347us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_TwoThousandFourteenNorthernPowerSystemsCorporationStockOptionAndIncentivePlanMember
        35,938us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncStockOptionAwardsMember
 
Shares, Granted   14,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_TwoThousandFourteenNorthernPowerSystemsCorporationStockOptionAndIncentivePlanMember
           
Shares, Exercised   (1,596)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_TwoThousandFourteenNorthernPowerSystemsCorporationStockOptionAndIncentivePlanMember
  (7,187)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncStockOptionAwardsMember
       
Shares, Canceled   (7,490)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_TwoThousandFourteenNorthernPowerSystemsCorporationStockOptionAndIncentivePlanMember
           
Shares Outstanding, Ending balance   2,408,261us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_TwoThousandFourteenNorthernPowerSystemsCorporationStockOptionAndIncentivePlanMember
2,403,347us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_TwoThousandFourteenNorthernPowerSystemsCorporationStockOptionAndIncentivePlanMember
  35,938us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncStockOptionAwardsMember
35,938us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncStockOptionAwardsMember
35,938us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncStockOptionAwardsMember
 
Shares Exercisable - March 31, 2015 367,500us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber 1,123,569us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_TwoThousandFourteenNorthernPowerSystemsCorporationStockOptionAndIncentivePlanMember
        35,938us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncStockOptionAwardsMember
35,938us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncStockOptionAwardsMember
Shares vested and expected to vest March 31, 2015   2,263,801us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_TwoThousandFourteenNorthernPowerSystemsCorporationStockOptionAndIncentivePlanMember
        35,938us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncStockOptionAwardsMember
 
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Outstanding, Beginning balance   $ 2.20us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_TwoThousandFourteenNorthernPowerSystemsCorporationStockOptionAndIncentivePlanMember
  3.48us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncStockOptionAwardsMember
       
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Granted   $ 1.84us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_TwoThousandFourteenNorthernPowerSystemsCorporationStockOptionAndIncentivePlanMember
           
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Exercised   $ 1.59us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_TwoThousandFourteenNorthernPowerSystemsCorporationStockOptionAndIncentivePlanMember
  3.48us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncStockOptionAwardsMember
       
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Canceled   $ 2.15us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_TwoThousandFourteenNorthernPowerSystemsCorporationStockOptionAndIncentivePlanMember
           
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Outstanding, Ending balance   $ 2.20us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_TwoThousandFourteenNorthernPowerSystemsCorporationStockOptionAndIncentivePlanMember
$ 2.20us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_TwoThousandFourteenNorthernPowerSystemsCorporationStockOptionAndIncentivePlanMember
3.48us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncStockOptionAwardsMember
  3.48us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncStockOptionAwardsMember
   
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Exercisable - March 31, 2015 $ 3.64us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice $ 2.18us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_TwoThousandFourteenNorthernPowerSystemsCorporationStockOptionAndIncentivePlanMember
  3.48us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncStockOptionAwardsMember
      3.48us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncStockOptionAwardsMember
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Shares vested and expected to vest March 31, 2015   $ 2.19us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_TwoThousandFourteenNorthernPowerSystemsCorporationStockOptionAndIncentivePlanMember
  3.48us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncStockOptionAwardsMember
       
Average Remaining Weighted-Average Contractual Term (in Years), Outstanding - December 31, 2014   5 years 7 months 13 days 5 years 11 months 19 days 1 month 6 days 3 months 18 days 3 months 18 days    
Average Remaining Weighted-Average Contractual Term (in Years), Outstanding - March 31, 2015   5 years 7 months 13 days 5 years 11 months 19 days 1 month 6 days 3 months 18 days 3 months 18 days    
Average Remaining Weighted-Average Contractual Term (in Years), Exercisable - March 31, 2015   5 years 1 month 21 days   1 month 6 days        
Average Remaining Weighted-Average Contractual Term (in Years), Shares vested and expected to vest March 31, 2015   5 years 7 months 2 days   1 month 6 days        
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Outstanding - December 31, 2014     $ 2,151us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_TwoThousandFourteenNorthernPowerSystemsCorporationStockOptionAndIncentivePlanMember
  $ 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncStockOptionAwardsMember
     
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Outstanding - March 31, 2015     2,151us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_TwoThousandFourteenNorthernPowerSystemsCorporationStockOptionAndIncentivePlanMember
  0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncStockOptionAwardsMember
     
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Exercisable - March 31, 2015   0us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_TwoThousandFourteenNorthernPowerSystemsCorporationStockOptionAndIncentivePlanMember
0us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_TwoThousandFourteenNorthernPowerSystemsCorporationStockOptionAndIncentivePlanMember
  0us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncStockOptionAwardsMember
  0us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncStockOptionAwardsMember
 
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Shares vested and expected to vest March 31, 2015   $ 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingAggregateIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_TwoThousandFourteenNorthernPowerSystemsCorporationStockOptionAndIncentivePlanMember
$ 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingAggregateIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_TwoThousandFourteenNorthernPowerSystemsCorporationStockOptionAndIncentivePlanMember
  $ 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingAggregateIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncStockOptionAwardsMember
  $ 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingAggregateIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= nrthf_NorthernPowerSystemsIncStockOptionAwardsMember