Related party transactions, GLNG Management and Services Agreements (Details) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2021 USD ($)
Ship Management Agreements [Member]
Related party transaction [Abstract]
Termination period	12 months
Period from the date on which notice is received	2 months
GLNG Management and Services Agreements [Member]
Related party transaction [Abstract]
Aggregate annual fee	$ 250
Management, services or guarantee fees	3,100
GLNG Management and Services Agreements [Member] \| Vessel Operating Expenses [Member]
Related party transaction [Abstract]
Management, services or guarantee fees	1,911
GLNG Management and Services Agreements [Member] \| Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Related party transaction [Abstract]
Management, services or guarantee fees	1,189
GLNG Management and Services Agreements [Member] \| Transition Services Agreements [Member]
Related party transaction [Abstract]
Monthly payments	250
GLNG Management and Services Agreements [Member] \| Bermuda Services Agreement [Member]
Related party transaction [Abstract]
Aggregate annual fee	$ 50
Termination period	30 days

Amount of fee that accompanies aggregated annually under the service agreements.

No definition available.

Name:	nfe_AggregateAnnualFee
Namespace Prefix:	nfe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of expense incurred in the management, services or guarantee fees.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nfe_ManagementServicesOrGuaranteeFees
Namespace Prefix:	nfe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of fee paid in monthly for administrative and consulting services under the service agreements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nfe_MonthlyPaymentsForAdministrativeAndConsultingServices
Namespace Prefix:	nfe_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The period from the date on which notice is received in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nfe_PeriodFromTheDateOnWhichNoticeIsReceived
Namespace Prefix:	nfe_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The period of termination of agreements in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nfe_TerminationPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	nfe_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionDueFromToRelatedPartyAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=nfe_ShipManagementAgreementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=nfe_GLNGManagementAndServicesAgreementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_OperatingExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=nfe_TransitionServicesAgreementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionAxis=nfe_BermudaServicesAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: