CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified		Total	Common Stock [Member]		Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Warrants [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Total Acorn Energy, Inc. Shareholders' Equity [Member]	Non-controlling Interests [Member]	Stockholders' Equity, Total [Member]
Balances at Dec. 31, 2010		$ 41,877	$ 180		$ 83,596	$ 427	$ (48,431)	$ (3,036)	$ 637	$ 33,373	$ 8,504
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010			18,068,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) from continuing operations		5,199					5,748			5,748	(549)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(549)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent		35,409
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(16)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		29,121					(29,661)			(29,661)	540
Differences from translation of subsidiaries' financial statements		(168)							(152)	(152)	(16)
Dividends		(1,490)			(1,490)					(1,490)
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Dividend Reinvestment Plan		0
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Dividend Reinvestment Plan		0
Adjustment of non-controlling interests following additional investment by the Company		0			600					600	(600)
Stock option compensation		406			406					406
Stock Option Compensation of Subsidiaries		176									176
Deconsolidation, Gain (Loss), Amount		(5,896)			1,193					1,193	(7,089)
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures			26,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures		101	0	[1]	101
Stockholders' Equity, Other		30									30
Exercise of options		211	3		208					211
Exercised		(231,831)	232,000
Balances at Dec. 31, 2011		69,567	183		84,614	427	(13,022)	(3,036)	485	69,651	(84)
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011			18,326,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) from continuing operations		(17,735)					(16,711)			(16,711)	(1,024)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(1,024)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent		(16,711)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		4
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0
Differences from translation of subsidiaries' financial statements		235							231	231	4
Dividends		(2,507)			(2,507)					(2,507)
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Dividend Reinvestment Plan		22,734	23,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Dividend Reinvestment Plan		175	0	[1]	175					175
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues		1
Adjustment of non-controlling interests following additional investment by the Company		0			(1,067)					(1,067)	1,067
Stock option compensation		532			532					532
Stock Option Compensation of Subsidiaries		323									323
Exercised		(252,453)
Exercise of warrants and options, shares			522,000
Exercise of warrants and options		1,355	5		1,722	(372)				1,355
Balances at Dec. 31, 2012		51,945	188		83,469	55	(29,733)	(3,036)	716	51,659	286	51,945
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012			18,871,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) from continuing operations		(30,989)								(29,714)		(30,989)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(1,275)									(1,275)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent		(29,714)					(29,714)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		11									(11)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0
Differences from translation of subsidiaries' financial statements		(521)							(532)	(532)		(521)
Dividends					(634)					(634)		(634)
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Dividend Reinvestment Plan		18,976	19,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Dividend Reinvestment Plan		117	0	[1]	117					117		117
Adjustment of non-controlling interests in DSIT following additional investment by the Company					202					202	(202)	0
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues			4,035,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues		1
Issuance of Stock and Warrants for Services or Claims		(482)			(482)	482						0
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock			(41)		(10,334)					10,375	0	10,375
Stock option compensation					926					926	0	926
Stock Option Compensation of Subsidiaries											293	293
Exercised	[2]	30,316
Exercise of warrants and options, shares			33,000
Exercise of warrants and options			0	[1]	11	(11)						0
Balances at Dec. 31, 2013		$ 31,512	$ 229		$ 93,943	$ 526	$ (59,447)	$ (3,036)	$ 184	$ 32,399	$ (887)	$ 31,512
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013			22,958,000

[1] Less than $1

[2] All shares issued in connection with option exercises were newly issued shares