Long-Term Debt (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012
Performance Bond Abstract
Number of Standby Letters of Credit	11
Number of Surety Bonds	5
Letter of Credit and Surety Bonds	$ 6,300,000
Number of Performance and Bid Bonds issued in relation to contracts	11
Number of stand by letters of credit deposited in certificates of deposit	8
Amount of certificate of deposit, which are restricted until eleven standby letters of credit have expired	4,800,000
First Line of Credit [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Number of Credit Agreements	1
Susquehanna Bank co-borrower: GSE Power Systems, Inc.	GSE Power Systems, Inc.
Susquehanna Bank co-borrower: GSE EnVision LLC	GSE EnVision LLC
Principal amount of the Susquehanna line of credit	7,500,000
Interest rate floor related to Susquehanna Bank agreement	4.50%
Line of credit facility term in years	2Y
Expiration date of credit agreements with Susquehanna Bank	November 1, 2013
Minimum Cash Balance Requirement	3,000,000
Minimum tangible capital base - Covenant Description	Must Exceed 26.0 million
Minimum tangible capital base - Covenant Compliance	$33.4 million
Quick ratio - Covenant Description	Must Exceed 2.00 : 1.00
Quick ratio- Covenant Compliance	2.59 : 1.00
Tangible capital base ratio - Covenant Description	Not to Exceed .75 : 1.00
Tangible capital base ratio - Covenant Compliance	.59 : 1.00
Issuances of stand-by letters of credit and advances as of period end	$ 328,000