Ormat (ORA) 10-Q 6 Nov 13 2013 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_And_Entity_Informatio

Document And Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Nov. 07, 2013
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'ORMAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	45,453,801
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001296445	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'
Entity Filer Category	'Accelerated Filer	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'No	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-13	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets:	'		'
Cash and cash equivalents	$35,435,000		$66,628,000
Short-term bank deposit	'		3,010,000
Restricted cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities (all related to variable interest entities ("VIEs"))	84,197,000		76,537,000
Receivables:	'		'
Trade	60,526,000		55,680,000
Related entity	442,000		373,000
Other	24,643,000		8,632,000
Due from Parent	373,000		311,000
Inventories	20,396,000		20,669,000
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts	36,201,000		9,613,000
Deferred income taxes	162,000		637,000
Prepaid expenses and other	36,724,000		34,144,000
Total current assets	299,099,000		276,234,000
Unconsolidated investments	5,419,000		2,591,000
Deposits and other	31,110,000		36,187,000
Deferred income taxes	15,966,000		21,283,000
Deferred charges	34,635,000		35,351,000
Property, plant and equipment, net ($1,310,022 and $1,188,721 related to VIEs, respectively)	1,383,353,000		1,252,873,000
Construction-in-process ($99,806 and $253,775 related to VIEs, respectively)	335,915,000		396,141,000
Deferred financing and lease costs, net	29,806,000		31,371,000
Intangible assets, net	33,032,000		35,492,000
Total assets	2,168,335,000	[1]	2,087,523,000
Current liabilities:	'		'
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	83,751,000		98,001,000
Deferred income taxes	20,428,000		20,392,000
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts	12,708,000		25,408,000
Limited and non-recourse (all related to VIEs):	'		'
Senior secured notes	30,059,000		28,231,000
Other loans	18,288,000		11,453,000
Full recourse	28,875,000		28,649,000
Total current liabilities	194,109,000		212,134,000
Limited and non-recourse (all related to VIEs):	'		'
Senior secured notes	286,786,000		312,926,000
Other loans	272,710,000		242,815,000
Full recourse:	'		'
Senior unsecured bonds (plus unamortized premium based upon 7% of $1,205)	250,674,000		250,904,000
Other loans	64,414,000		82,344,000
Revolving credit lines with banks	123,288,000		73,606,000
Liability associated with sale of tax benefits	65,402,000		51,126,000
Deferred lease income	64,217,000		66,398,000
Deferred income taxes	52,233,000		45,059,000
Liability for unrecognized tax benefits	8,878,000		7,280,000
Liabilities for severance pay	23,642,000		22,887,000
Asset retirement obligation	20,436,000		19,289,000
Other long-term liabilities	4,576,000		5,148,000
Total liabilities	1,431,365,000		1,391,916,000
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)	'		'
The Company's stockholders' equity:	'		'
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 45,453,801 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012	46,000		46,000
Additional paid-in capital	737,125,000		732,140,000
Accumulated deficit	-13,066,000		-44,326,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income	527,000		651,000
	724,632,000		688,511,000
Noncontrolling interest	12,338,000		7,096,000
Total equity	736,970,000		695,607,000
Total liabilities and equity	2,168,335,000		2,087,523,000
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]	'		'
Receivables:	'		'
Property, plant and equipment, net ($1,310,022 and $1,188,721 related to VIEs, respectively)	1,310,022,000		1,188,721,000
Construction-in-process ($99,806 and $253,775 related to VIEs, respectively)	$99,806,000		$253,775,000
[1]	Including unconsolidated investments

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance1

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parentheticals) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
Property, plant and equipment, net (related to VIEs) (in Dollars)	$1,383,353	$1,252,873
Construction-in-process (related to VIEs) (in Dollars)	335,915	396,141
Senior unsecured bonds %	7.00%	'
Senior unsecured bonds unamortized premium (in Dollars)	1,205	'
Common stock, par value (in Dollars per share)	$0.00	$0.00
Common stock, shares authorized (in Shares)	200,000,000	200,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in Shares)	45,453,801	45,453,801
Common stock, shares outstanding (in Shares)	45,453,801	45,453,801
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net (related to VIEs) (in Dollars)	1,310,022	1,188,721
Construction-in-process (related to VIEs) (in Dollars)	$99,806	$253,775

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Revenues:	'	'	'	'
Electricity	$88,994,000	$77,612,000	$245,005,000	$238,837,000
Product	41,755,000	54,685,000	157,329,000	149,616,000
Total revenues	130,749,000	132,297,000	402,334,000	388,453,000
Cost of revenues:	'	'	'	'
Electricity	61,356,000	59,924,000	175,085,000	172,785,000
Product	29,637,000	42,130,000	110,335,000	108,575,000
Total cost of revenues	90,993,000	102,054,000	285,420,000	281,360,000
Gross margin	39,756,000	30,243,000	116,914,000	107,093,000
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'
Research and development expenses	838,000	1,436,000	3,446,000	3,948,000
Selling and marketing expenses	2,575,000	3,346,000	17,861,000	12,752,000
General and administrative expenses	6,546,000	6,132,000	20,264,000	20,163,000
Impairment charge	'	7,264,000	'	7,264,000
Write-off of unsuccessful exploration activities	'	'	'	1,919,000
Operating income	29,797,000	12,065,000	75,343,000	61,047,000
Other income (expense):	'	'	'	'
Interest income	742,000	280,000	870,000	1,004,000
Interest expense, net	-18,459,000	-15,400,000	-51,826,000	-44,541,000
Foreign currency translation and transaction gains (losses)	1,258,000	615,000	3,844,000	-1,127,000
Income attributable to sale of tax benefits	5,027,000	2,311,000	14,342,000	7,417,000
Other non-operating income, net	137,000	215,000	1,583,000	344,000
Income before income taxes and equity in losses of investees	18,502,000	86,000	44,156,000	24,144,000
Income tax provision	-5,201,000	-1,088,000	-15,028,000	-10,148,000
Equity in losses of investees	-158,000	-1,245,000	-149,000	-1,542,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations	13,143,000	-2,247,000	28,979,000	12,454,000
Discontinued operations:	'	'	'	'
Income from discontinued operations (including gain on disposal of $0, $0, $3,646 and $0, respectively)	'	2,123,000	5,311,000	4,875,000
Total income from discontinued operations	'	1,732,000	4,697,000	3,778,000
Net income (loss)	13,143,000	-515,000	33,676,000	16,232,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	-193,000	-67,000	-600,000	-278,000
Net income (loss) attributable to the Company's stockholders	12,950,000	-582,000	33,076,000	15,954,000
Comprehensive income (loss):	'	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	13,143,000	-515,000	33,676,000	16,232,000
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of related taxes:	'	'	'	'
Amortization of gains or losses in respect of derivative instruments designated for cash flow hedge	-40,000	-47,000	-124,000	-140,000
Change in fair value of marketable securities available-for-sale	'	262,000	'	242,000
Comprehensive income (loss)	13,103,000	-300,000	33,552,000	16,334,000
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	-211,000	-67,000	-600,000	-278,000
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company's stockholders	12,892,000	-367,000	32,952,000	16,056,000
Basic:	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from continuing operations (in Dollars per share)	$0.29	($0.05)	$0.62	$0.27
Discontinued operations (in Dollars per share)	'	$0.04	$0.10	$0.08
Net income (loss) (in Dollars per share)	$0.29	($0.01)	$0.72	$0.35
Diluted:	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from continuing operations (in Dollars per share)	$0.28	($0.05)	$0.62	$0.27
Discontinued operations (in Dollars per share)	'	$0.04	$0.10	$0.08
Net income (loss) (in Dollars per share)	$0.28	($0.01)	$0.72	$0.35
Weighted average number of shares used in computation of earnings per share attributable to the Company's stockholders:	'	'	'	'
Basic (in Shares)	45,438	45,431	45,433	45,431
Diluted (in Shares)	45,494	45,431	45,454	45,438
Dividend per share declared (in Dollars per share)	$0.04	$0.04	$0.08	$0.08
Discontinued Operations [Member]	'	'	'	'
Other income (expense):	'	'	'	'
Income tax provision	'	($391,000)	($614,000)	($1,097,000)

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme1

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (Parentheticals) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Income from discontinued operations gain on disposal (in Dollars)	$0	$0	$3,646	$0

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme2

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited) (USD $)	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Parent [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
In Thousands
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$46	$725,746	$172,331	$595	$898,718	$7,926	$906,644
Balance (in Shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	45,431	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation	'	4,837	'	'	4,837	'	4,837
Cash paid to noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'	'	-1,025	-1,025
Cash dividend paid	'	'	-3,636	'	-3,636	'	-3,636
Net income (loss)	'	'	15,954	'	15,954	278	16,232
Amortization of unrealized gains in respect of derivative instruments designated for cash flow hedge (net of related tax)	'	'	'	-140	-140	'	-140
Change in fair value of marketable securities available-for-sale (net of related tax of $0)	'	'	'	242	242	'	242
Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	46	730,583	184,649	697	915,975	7,179	923,154
Balance (in Shares) at Sep. 30, 2012	45,431	'	'	'	'	'	'
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	46	732,140	-44,326	651	688,511	7,096	695,607
Balance (in Shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	45,431	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation	'	4,548	'	'	4,548	'	4,548
Cash paid to noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'	'	-509	-509
Cash dividend paid	'	'	-1,816	'	-1,816	'	-1,816
Exercise of options by employees	'	437	'	'	437	'	437
Exercise of options by employees (in Shares)	23	'	'	'	'	'	'
Increase in noncontrolling interest due to sale of equity interest in ORTP LLC	'	'	'	'	'	5,151	5,151
Net income (loss)	'	'	33,076	'	33,076	600	33,676
Amortization of unrealized gains in respect of derivative instruments designated for cash flow hedge (net of related tax)	'	'	'	-124	-124	'	-124
Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	$46	$737,125	($13,066)	$527	$724,632	$12,338	$736,970
Balance (in Shares) at Sep. 30, 2013	45,454	'	'	'	'	'	'

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited) (Parentheticals) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Cash dividend declared, per share (in Dollars per share)	$0.04	$0.08
Amortization of unrealized gains in respect of derivative instruments designated for cash flow hedge, related tax (in Dollars)	$76	$88
Change in fair value of marketable securities available-for-sale, related tax (in Dollars)	'	$0

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme4

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Net income	$33,676	$16,232
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	70,911	75,812
Amortization of premium from senior unsecured bonds	-231	-231
Accretion of asset retirement obligation	1,147	1,264
Stock-based compensation	4,548	4,837
Amortization of deferred lease income	-2,014	-2,014
Income attributable to sale of tax benefits, net of interest expense	-6,621	-2,775
Equity in losses of investees	149	442
Mark-to-market of derivative instruments	3,487	'
Write-off of unconsolidated investment	'	1,100
Write-off of unsuccessful exploration activities	'	1,919
Impairment charge	'	7,264
Loss (gain) on severance pay fund asset	-399	332
Gain on sale of a subsidiary	-3,646	'
Deferred income tax provision	14,235	5,894
Liability for unrecognized tax benefits	1,598	1,264
Deferred lease revenues	-167	110
Other	-819	'
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:	'	'
Receivables	-23,181	-29,742
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts	-26,588	-3,738
Inventories	273	-5,245
Prepaid expenses and other	-6,175	-12,825
Deposits and other	4,296	-5,356
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	-21,449	9,523
Due from/to related entities, net	-69	-64
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts	-12,700	-558
Liabilities for severance pay	1,068	271
Other long-term liabilities	959	-1,396
Due from/to Parent	-62	64
Net cash provided by operating activities	32,226	62,384
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Marketable securities, net	'	18,763
Short-term deposit	3,010	-3,008
Net change in restricted cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities	-7,660	-775
Cash received from sale of a subsidiary	7,699	'
Capital expenditures	-144,637	-186,332
Cash grant received	14,685	119,199
Investment in unconsolidated companies	-2,467	-1,260
Increase (decrease) in severance pay fund asset, net of payments made to retired employees	1,172	-198
Net cash used in investing activities	-128,198	-53,611
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Proceeds from issuance of senior unsecured bonds	'	1,171
Proceeds from long-term loans	45,000	'
Proceeds from exercise of options by employees	437	'
Proceeds from the sale of limited liability company interest in ORTP, LLC, net of transaction costs	31,376	'
Purchase of OFC Senior Secured Notes	-11,888	'
Proceeds from revolving credit lines with banks	2,170,287	2,134,887
Repayment of revolving credit lines with banks	-2,120,605	-2,161,462
Repayments of long-term debt	-37,480	-28,927
Cash paid to non-controlling interest	-10,184	-10,991
Deferred debt issuance costs	-348	-2,177
Cash dividends paid	-1,816	-3,636
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	64,779	-71,135
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	-31,193	-62,362
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	66,628	99,886
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	35,435	37,524
Supplemental non-cash investing and financing activities:	'	'
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable related to purchases of property, plant and equipment	7,744	-18,119
Accrued liabilities related to financing activities	($1,347)	'

Note_1_General_and_Basis_of_Pr

Note 1 - General and Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Disclosure Text Block [Abstract]	'
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	NOTE 1 — GENERAL AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
	These unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements of Ormat Technologies, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial statements. Accordingly, they do not contain all information and notes required by U.S. GAAP for annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, these unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements reflect all adjustments, which include normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s consolidated financial position as of September 30, 2013, the consolidated results of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 and the consolidated cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012.
	The financial data and other information disclosed in the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements related to these periods are unaudited. The results for the three and nine-month period ended September 30, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2013.
	These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012. The condensed consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2012 was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012, but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP.
	Dollar amounts, except per share data, in the notes to these financial statements are rounded to the closest $1,000.
	Revision of previously issued financial statements
	The Company identified an error in the second quarter of 2013 related to the calculation and presentation of income tax provision and the related deferred tax asset for the year ended December 31, 2012 and the three months ended March 31, 2013, which was a direct result of the deferred tax effects of the non-cash asset impairment charge recorded in the fourth quarter of 2012. The Company understated the valuation allowance against the U.S. deferred tax assets by $32.7 million and $3.1 million at December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2013, respectively. As a result, for the year ended December 31, 2012 the Company revised the valuation allowance by $32.7 million, of which $26.1 million was recorded against property, plant and equipment where the Company recognized the deferred tax effects of grants received during 2012 and the remaining $6.6 million to the income tax provision. For the three months ended March 31, 2013, the Company revised the valuation allowance by an additional $3.1 million which also increased the tax provision for the period by the same amount.
	The Company assessed the materiality of this error in accordance with the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin 99 and concluded that the previously issued financial statements were not materially misstated. However, if the entire correction of the error was recorded during the second quarter of fiscal 2013, the impact would be significant to the quarter ended June 30, 2013. In accordance with the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin 108, the Company corrected these errors by revising the affected financial statements previously included in the Company’s 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K and March 31, 2013 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
	This revision had no impact on the Company’s revenues, gross margin, operating income (loss), income (loss) before taxes and equity income (loss) of investees. There was also no impact on the Company’s consolidated net operating, investing or financing cash flows; however, the revisions impacted line items within the balance sheet at December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2013 and cash flows from operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2012 and the three months ended March 31, 2013. The revision impacted the Company income tax benefit (provision), net income (loss) from continuing operations, net income (loss) attributable to the Company’s stockholders, comprehensive income (loss) and earnings (loss) per share (“EPS”) in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2012 and the three months ended March 31, 2013.
	The consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss), consolidated balance sheet, and consolidated statement of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2012 will be revised in the Company’s 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K and for the three months ended March 31, 2013 will be revised to correct the errors described above prospectively in the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the first quarter of 2014.
	The effect of the revision on the line items within the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2012 is as follows:
		As of December 31, 2012
		As reported			Adjustment			As revised
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Deferred income taxes	$	53,989		$	(32,706	)	$	21,283
	Property, plant and equipment, net		1,226,758			26,115			1,252,873
	Total assets		2,094,114			(6,591	)		2,087,523
	Accumulated deficit		(37,735	)		(6,591	)		(44,326	)
	Total equity		702,189			(6,591	)		695,607
	Total liabilities and equity		2,094,114			(6,591	)		2,087,523
	The effect of the revision on the line items within the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2012 is as follows:
		Year Ended December 31, 2012
		As reported			Adjustment			As revised
		(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
	Income tax benefit (provision)	$	3,500		$	(6,591	)	$	(3,091	)
	Loss from continuing operations		(206,016	)		(6,591	)		(212,607	)
	Net loss		(206,016	)		(6,591	)		(212,607	)
	Net loss attributable to the Company's stockholders	$	(206,430	)	$	(6,591	)	$	(213,021	)
	Comprehensive loss		(205,960	)		(6,591	)		212,551
	Comprehensive loss attributable to the Company's stockholders	$	(206,374	)	$	(6,591	)	$	212,965
	Loss per share attributable to the Company's stockholders:
	Basic and diluted	$	(4.54	)	$	(0.15	)	$	(4.69	)
	The effect of the revision on the line items within the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2012 is as follows:
		Year Ended December 31, 2012
		As reported			Adjustment			As revised
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Cash flows from operating activities:
	Net loss	$	(206,016	)	$	(6,591	)	$	(212,607	)
	Deferred income tax provision (benefit)		(11,327	)		6,591			(4,736	)
	Net cash provided by operating activities	$	89,471		$	-		$	89,471
	The effect of the revision on the line items within the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2013 is as follows:
		As of March 31, 2013
		As reported			Adjustment			As revised
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Deferred income taxes	$	52,939		$	(35,758	)	$	17,181
	Property, plant and equipment, net		1,207,410			26,115			1,233,525
	Total assets		2,143,568			(9,643	)		2,133,925
	Accumulated deficit		(39,717	)		(9,643	)		(49,360	)
	Total equity		706,519			(9,643	)		696,876
	Total liabilities and equity		2,143,568			(9,643	)		2,133,925
	The effect of the revision on the line items within the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2013 is as follows:
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
		As reported			Adjustment			As revised
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Income tax benefit (provision)	$	(1,217	)	$	(3,052	)	$	(4,269	)
	Loss from continuing operations		(1,897	)		(3,052	)		(4,949	)
	Net loss		(1,897	)		(3,052	)		(4,949	)
	Net loss attributable to the Company's stockholders	$	(1,982	)	$	(3,052	)	$	(5,034	)
	Comprehensive loss:
	Net loss		(1,897	)		(3,052	)		(4,949	)
	Comprehensive loss		(1,939	)		(3,052	)		(4,991	)
	Comprehensive loss attributable to the Company's stockholders	$	2,024		$	(3,052	)	$	(5,076	)
	Loss per share attributable to the Company's stockholders:
Basic and diluted	$	(0.04	)	$	(0.07	)	$	(0.11	)
The effect of the revision on the line items within the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2013 is as follows:
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
	As reported			Adjustment			As revised
	(Dollars in thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$	(1,897	)	$	(3,052	)	$	(4,949	)
Deferred income tax provision		668			3,052			3,720
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	18,216		$	-		$	18,216
Other comprehensive income
For the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company classified $124,000 and $140,000, respectively, from other comprehensive income, of which $200,000 and $228,000, respectively, were recorded to reduce interest expense and $76,000 and $88,000, respectively, were recorded against the income tax provision, in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. For the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, the Company reclassified out $40,000 and $47,000, respectively, from other comprehensive income, of which $65,000 and $76,000, respectively, were recorded to reduce interest expense and $25,000 and $29,000, respectively, were recorded against the income tax provision, in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.
Termination fee
On March 15, 2013, the Company finalized the agreement with Southern California Edison Company (“Southern California Edison”), by which the G1 and G3 Standard Offer #4 power purchase agreements (“PPAs”) were terminated and a termination fee of $9.0 million was recorded in the first quarter of 2013 in selling and marketing expenses. Under the agreement, the Company will continue to sell power from G2, the third plant of the Mammoth complex, under its existing PPA with Southern California Edison, with the term of the contract extended by an additional six years until early 2027.
Concentration of credit risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist principally of temporary cash investments and accounts receivable.
The Company places its temporary cash investments with high credit quality financial institutions located in the United States (“U.S.”) and in foreign countries. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company had deposits totaling $14,065,000 and $41,231,000, respectively, in seven U.S. financial institutions that were federally insured up to $250,000 per account. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company’s deposits in foreign countries amounted to approximately $40,320,000 and $33,215,000, respectively.
At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, accounts receivable related to operations in foreign countries amounted to approximately $23,272,000 and $17,606,000, respectively. At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, accounts receivable from the Company’s primary customers (listed below) amounted to approximately 62.0% and 45.0% of the Company’s accounts receivable, respectively.
Sierra Pacific Power Company and Nevada Power Company (subsidiaries of NV Energy, Inc.) accounted for 15.3% and 14.5% of the Company’s total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and 17.0% and 14.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Southern California Edison accounted for 20.9% and 20.4% of the Company’s total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and 14.9% and 19.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Kenya Power and Lighting Co. Ltd. accounted for 13.8% and 8.8% of the Company’s total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and 10.9% and 8.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition. The Company has historically been able to collect on all of its receivable balances, and accordingly, no provision for doubtful accounts has been made.

Note_2_New_Accounting_Pronounc

Note 2 - New Accounting Pronouncements	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]	'
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Text Block]	'
	NOTE 2 — NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
	New accounting pronouncements effective in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2013
	Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities
	In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued accounting guidance to amend the existing disclosure requirements for offsetting financial assets and liabilities to enhance current disclosures, as well as to improve the comparability of balance sheets prepared under GAAP and those prepared under International Financial Reporting Standards. In January 2013, the FASB issued additional guidance on the scope of these disclosures. The revised disclosure guidance applies to derivative instruments and securities borrowing and lending transactions that are subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement. The revised disclosure guidance is effective on a retrospective basis for interim and annual periods beginning January 1, 2013. As this guidance only imposes additional disclosure requirements, its adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
	Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
	In February 2013, the FASB updated accounting guidance to add new disclosure requirements for items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income. Although the update does not change the current requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income in financial statements, it does require an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. In addition, an entity is required to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes thereto, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income, but only if the amount reclassified is required to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts that are not required to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, an entity is required to cross-reference to other disclosures that provide additional detail about those amounts. The amendments included in this guidance are required to be applied on a retrospective basis for interim and annual periods beginning January 1, 2013. As this guidance only imposes additional disclosure requirements, its adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
	Presentation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits
	In July 2013, the FASB clarified the accounting guidance on presentation of the unrecognized tax benefits when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. The guidance states that an unrecognized tax benefit (or a portion thereof) should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward, except for certain exceptions specified in the guidance. The exceptions include when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction to reduce any income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position or the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and not be combined with deferred tax assets. The assessment of whether a deferred tax asset is available is based on the unrecognized tax benefit and deferred tax asset that exist at the reporting date and is to be made assuming the disallowance of the tax position at the reporting date. This accounting update is effective for fiscal periods after December 15, 2013. The provision is to be applied prospectively to all unrecognized tax benefits that exist at the effective date, and can be applied retroactively. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of the adoption of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

Note_3_Inventories

Note 3 - Inventories	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Inventory Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	NOTE 3 — INVENTORIES
	Inventories consist of the following:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Raw materials and purchased parts for assembly	$	10,034	$	9,775
	Self-manufactured assembly parts and finished products		10,362		10,894
	Total	$	20,396	$	20,669

Note_4_Unconsolidated_Investme

Note 4 - Unconsolidated Investments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]	'
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	NOTE 4 — UNCONSOLIDATED INVESTMENTS
	Unconsolidated investments consist of the following:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Sarulla	$	5,419	$	2,591
	The Sarulla Project
	The Company is a 12.75% member of a consortium which is in the process of developing the Sarulla geothermal power project in Indonesia with expected generating capacity of approximately 330 megawatts (“MW”). The Sarulla project is located in Tapanuli Utara, North Sumatra, Indonesia and will be owned and operated by the consortium members under the framework of a Joint Operating Contract (“JOC”) and Energy Sales Contract (“ESC”) that were signed on April 4, 2013. Under the JOC, PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy (“PGE”), the concession holder for the project, has provided the consortium with the right to use the geothermal field, and under the ESC, PT PLN, the state electric utility, will be the off-taker at Sarulla for a period of 30 years. In addition to its equity holdings in the consortium, the Company designed the Sarulla plant and will supply its Ormat Energy Converters (“OECs”) to the power plant. The supply contract has not been signed as of September 30, 2013.
	The consortium has started preliminary testing and development activities at the site and signed an engineering procurement and construction agreement (“EPC”) with an unrelated third party. The project will be constructed in three phases of 110 MW each, utilizing both steam and brine extracted from the geothermal field to increase the power plant’s efficiency. Construction is expected to begin after the consortium obtains financing, which is expected to take approximately one year from the signing of the JOC and ESC. The first phase is scheduled to commence operation in 2016, and the remaining two phases are scheduled to be completed in stages within 18 months thereafter.
	The Company’s share in the results of operations of the Sarulla project was not significant for each of the periods presented in these condensed consolidated financial statements.
	Watts & More Ltd.
	In December 2012, the Company acquired additional shares in Watts & More Ltd. (“W&M”) and as a result holds 60% of W&M’s outstanding ordinary shares and W&M was consolidated as of December 31, 2012.
	The Company’s investment in W&M prior to its consolidation was not significant for the related period presented in these consolidated financial statements.

Note_5_Fair_Value_of_Financial

Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block]	'
	NOTE 5 — FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
	The fair value measurement guidance clarifies that fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received upon selling an asset or paid upon transferring a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. The guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under the fair value measurement guidance are described below:
	Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets or liabilities;
	Level 2 — Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability;
	Level 3 — Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (supported by little or no market activity).
	The following table sets forth certain fair value information at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 for financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value by level within the fair value hierarchy, as well as cost or amortized cost. As required by the fair value measurement guidance, assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of inputs that is significant to the fair value measurement.
							Fair Value at September 30, 2013
				Cost or			Total				Level 1				Level 2				Level 3
				Amortized
				Cost at September 30, 2013
			(Dollars in thousands)
	Assets
	Current assets:
	Cash equivalents (including restricted cash accounts)		$	67,234			$	67,234			$	67,234			$	—			$	—
	Derivatives:
	Put options on oil price(1)			—				142				—				142				—
	Currency forward contracts(2)			—				2,952				—				2,952				—
	Swap transaction on natural gas price(3)			—				1,353				—				1,353				—
			$	67,234			$	71,681			$	67,234			$	4,447			$	—
							Fair Value at December 31, 2012
							Total				Level 1				Level 2				Level 3
				Cost or
				Amortized
				Cost at
				31-Dec-12
			(Dollars in thousands)
	Assets
	Current assets:
	Cash equivalents (including restricted cash accounts)		$	54,298			$	54,298			$	54,298			$	—			$	—
	Derivatives:
	Put options on oil price(1)			—				1,842				—				1,842				—
	Currency forward contracts(2)			—				1,675				—				1,675				—
	Swap transaction on natural gas price(3)			—				2,804				—				2,804				—
	Swap transaction on oil price(4)			—				336				—				336				—
			$	54,298			$	60,955			$	54,298			$	6,657			$	—
	-1	This amount relates to derivatives which represent European put transactions on oil prices, valued primarily based on observable inputs, including forward and spot prices for related commodity indices, and are included within "prepaid expenses and other" in the condensed consolidated balance sheet with the corresponding gain or loss being recognized within "electricity revenues" in the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
	-2	This amount relates to derivatives which represent currency forward contracts, valued primarily based on observable inputs, including forward and spot prices for currencies, netted against contracted rates and then multiplied against notational amounts, and are included within "prepaid expenses and other" in the condensed consolidated balance sheet with the corresponding gain or loss being recognized within "foreign currency translation and transaction gains (losses)" in the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
	-3	This amount relates to derivatives which represent swap contracts on natural gas prices, valued primarily based on observable inputs, including forward and spot prices for related commodity indices, and are included within "prepaid expenses and other" in the condensed consolidated balance sheet with the corresponding gain or loss being recognized within "electricity revenues" in the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
	-4	This amount relates to derivatives which represent swap contracts on oil prices, valued primarily based on observable inputs, including forward and spot prices for related commodity indices, and are included within "prepaid expenses and other" in the condensed consolidated balance sheet with the corresponding gain or loss being recognized within "electricity revenues" in the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
	The following table presents the amounts of gain (loss) recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) on derivative instruments not designated as hedges:
				Amount of recognized gain (loss)
	Derivatives not designated	Location of recognized		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
	as hedging instruments	gain (loss)		September 30,								September 30,
				2013				2012				2013				2012
				(Dollars in thousands)								(Dollars in thousands)
	Put options on oil price	Electricity revenues		$	(824	)		$	(198	)		$	(1,256	)		$	(198	)
	Swap transaction on oil price	Electricity revenues			—				(3,197	)			(294	)			1,123
	Swap transactions on natural gas price	Electricity revenues			477				(421	)			81				(872	)
	Currency forward contracts	Foreign currency translation and transaction gains (losses)			1,970				(137	)			4,895				(774	)
				$	1,623			$	(3,953	)		$	3,426			$	(721	)
	On September 3, 2013, the Company entered into NGI swap contract for notional volume of approximately 4.4 million MMbtus with a bank for settlement effective January 1, 2014 until December 31, 2014, in order to reduce its exposure to NGI below $4.035 per MMbtu under its PPAs with Southern California Edison. The contract did not have up-front costs. Under the term of this contract, the Company will make floating rate payments to the bank and receive fixed rate payments from the bank on each settlement date. The swap contract has monthly settlement whereby the difference between the fixed price of $4.035 per MMbtu and the market price on the first commodity business day on which the relevant commodity reference price is published in the relevant calculation period (January 1, 2014 to December 1, 2014) will be settled on a cash basis. This contract will not be designated as hedge transaction and will be marked to market with the corresponding gains or losses recognized within “electricity revenues” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
	On October 17, 2013, the Company entered into NGI swap contract for notional volume of approximately 4.2 million MMbtus with a bank effective from January 1, 2014 until December 31, 2014 (see Note 15 for discussion of this contract).
	On October 17, 2013, the Company entered into New York Harbor ULSD swap contract for notional volume of 275,000 barrels (“BBL”) with a bank effective from January 1, 2014 until December 31, 2014 (see Note 15 for discussion of this contract).
	The Company’s financial assets measured at fair value (including restricted cash accounts) at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 include short-term bank deposits and money market funds (which are included in cash equivalents). Those assets are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices in an active market.
	There were no transfers of assets or liabilities between Level 1 and Level 2 during the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
	The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt approximates its carrying amount, except for the following:
			Fair Value								Carrying Amount
			September 30,				December 31,				September 30,				December 31,
			2013				2012				2013				2012
			(Dollars in millions)								(Dollars in millions)
	Olkaria III loan - DEG		$	44.7			$	48.8			$	43.4			$	47.4
	Olkaria III Loan - OPIC			241.4				220				258.8				220
	Amatitlan loan			35.7				38.9				32.2				34.3
Senior secured notes:
Ormat Funding LLC ("OFC")			88.5				105				96.2				114.1
OrCal Geothermal LLC ("OrCal")			74.8				77.3				74				76.5
OFC 2 LLC ("OFC 2")			121.3				131.2				146.6				150.5
Senior unsecured bonds			265.8				273.2				250.7				250.9
Loans from institutional investors			22.2				27.7				21.5				27
The fair value of OFC Senior Secured Notes is determined using observable market prices as these securities are traded. The fair value of other long-term debt is determined by a valuation model, which is based on a conventional discounted cash flow methodology and utilizes assumptions of estimated current borrowing rates.
The carrying value of other financial instruments, such as revolving lines of credit, deposits, and other long-term debt approximates fair value.
The following table presents the fair value of financial instruments as of September 30, 2013:
		Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
		(Dollars in millions)
Olkaria III loan - DEG		$	—			$	—			$	44.7			$	44.7
Olkaria III loan - OPIC			—				—				241.4				241.4
Amatitlan loan			—				—				35.7				35.7
Senior secured notes:
OFC			—				88.5				—				88.5
OrCal			—				—				74.8				74.8
OFC 2			—				—				121.3				121.3
Senior unsecured bonds			—				—				265.8				265.8
Loan from institutional investors			—				—				22.2				22.2
Other long-term debt			—				28.3				—				28.3
Revolving lines of credit			—				123.3				—				123.3
Deposits			21				—				—				21

Note_6_StockBased_Compensation

Note 6 - Stock-Based Compensation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block]	'
	NOTE 6 — STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
	The 2004 Incentive Compensation Plan
	In 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the 2004 Incentive Compensation Plan (“2004 Incentive Plan”), which provides for the grant of the following types of awards: incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), stock units, performance awards, phantom stock, incentive bonuses, and other possible related dividend equivalents to employees of the Company, directors and independent contractors. Under the 2004 Incentive Plan, a total of 3,750,000 shares of the Company’s common stock have been reserved for issuance, all of which could be issued as options or as other forms of awards. Options and SARs granted to employees under the 2004 Incentive Plan cliff vest and are exercisable from the grant date as follows: 25% after 24 months, 25% after 36 months, and the remaining 50% after 48 months. Options granted to non-employee directors under the 2004 Incentive Plan cliff vest and become fully exercisable one year after the grant date. Vested shares may be exercised for up to ten years from the date of grant. The shares of common stock will be issued upon exercise of options or SARs from the Company’s authorized share capital. The 2004 Incentive Plan expired in May 2012 upon adoption of the 2012 Incentive Plan, except as to share based awards outstanding on that date.
	The 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan
	In May 2012, the Company’s shareholders adopted the 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan (“2012 Incentive Plan”), which provides for the grant of the following types of awards: incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, SARs, stock units, performance awards, phantom stock, incentive bonuses, and other possible related dividend equivalents to employees of the Company, directors and independent contractors. Under the 2012 Incentive Plan, a total of 4,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock have been reserved for issuance, all of which could be issued as options or as other forms of awards. Options and SARs granted to employees under the 2012 Incentive Plan will vest and become exercisable as follows: 25% vest 24 months after the grant date, an additional 25% vest 36 months after the grant date, and the remaining 50% vest 48 months after the grant date. Options granted to non-employee directors under the 2012 Incentive Plan will vest and become fully exercisable one year after the grant date. Vested stock-based awards may be exercised for up to ten years from the date of grant. Upon exercise, SARs entitle the recipient to receive shares of common stock equal to the increase in the fair market value of the Company’s common stock from the grant date to the date of exercise. The shares of common stock will be issued upon exercise of options or SARs from the Company’s authorized share capital.
	On April 3, 2013, the Company granted its Chief Financial Officer 120,000 SARs under the 2012 Incentive Plan. The exercise price of each SAR is $20.54, which represented the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Such SARs will expire six years from the date of grant, and will vest in equal annual installments over a period of four years from the grant date.
	The fair value of each SAR on the date of grant was $5.64. The Company calculated the fair value of each SAR on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes valuation model based on the following assumptions:
	Risk-free interest rates	0.57%
	Expected lives (in years)	4.25
	Dividend yield	0.80%
	Expected volatility	35.76%
	Forfeiture rate	0.00%
	On June 4, 2013, the Company granted its employees 1,150,100 SARs under the 2012 Incentive Plan. The exercise price of each SAR is $23.34, which represented the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Such SARs will expire six years from the date of grant, and will vest fully after four years starting from the grant date, 25% at the end of the second year, 25% at the end of the third year, and 50% at the end of the fourth year.
	NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
	The fair value of each SAR on the date of grant was $7.21. The Company calculated the fair value of each SAR on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes valuation model based on the following assumptions:
	Risk-free interest rates	0.77%
	Expected lives (in years)	4.625
	Dividend yield	0.70%
	Expected volatility	38.13%
	Forfeiture rate	6.37%
	During the third quarter of 2013, the Company evaluated the trends in the stock-based award forfeiture rate and determined that the actual rate is 7.46%. This represents an increase of 1.09% from the estimate made a year earlier in the third quarter of 2012. As a result of the estimated forfeiture rate increase, the stock based compensation expense decreased by an immaterial amount.

Note_7_Interest_Expense_Net

Note 7 - Interest Expense, Net	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Interest Expense Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Interest Expense Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	NOTE 7 — INTEREST EXPENSE, NET
	The components of interest expense, net, are as follows:
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
		(Dollars in thousands)						(Dollars in thousands)
	Interest related to sale of tax benefits	$	3,479		$	1,580		$	9,233		$	5,140
	Other interest expense		16,811			16,301			48,820			48,968
	Less — amount capitalized		(1,831	)		(2,481	)		(6,227	)		(9,567	)
		$	18,459		$	15,400		$	51,826		$	44,541

Note_8_Earnings_Loss_Per_Share

Note 8 - Earnings (Loss) Per Share	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Earnings Per Share [Text Block]	'
	NOTE 8 — EARNINGS PER SHARE
	Basic earnings per share attributable to the Company’s stockholders is computed by dividing net income or loss attributable to the Company’s stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. The Company does not have any equity instruments that are dilutive, except for employee stock-based awards.
	The table below shows the reconciliation of the number of shares used in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:
		Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
		2013		2012		2013		2012
		(In thousands)				(In thousands)
	Weighted average number of shares used in computation of basic earnings per share		45,438		45,431		45,433		45,431
	Add:
	Additional shares from the assumed exercise of employee stock-based awards		56		—		21		7
	Weighted average number of shares used in computation of diluted earnings per share		45,494		45,431		45,454		45,438
	The number of stock-based awards that could potentially dilute future earnings per share and that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because to do so would have been anti-dilutive was 4,999,298 and 5,423,548 for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and 5,312,238 and 5,663,796 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Note_9_Business_Segments

Note 9 - Business Segments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	NOTE 9 — BUSINESS SEGMENTS
	The Company has two reporting segments: Electricity and Product Segments. These segments are managed and reported separately as each offers different products and serves different markets. The Electricity Segment is engaged in the sale of electricity from the Company’s power plants pursuant to PPAs. The Product Segment is engaged in the manufacture, including design and development, of turbines and power units for the supply of electrical energy and in the associated construction of power plants utilizing the power units manufactured by the Company to supply energy from geothermal fields and other alternative energy sources. Transfer prices between the operating segments are determined based on current market values or cost plus markup of the seller’s business segment.
	Summarized financial information concerning the Company’s reportable segments is shown in the following table:
		Electricity			Product			Consolidated
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Three Months Ended September 30, 2013:
	Net revenues from external customers	$	88,994		$	41,755		$	130,749
	Intersegment revenues		—			4,329			4,329
	Operating income		20,732			9,065			29,797
	Segment assets at period end *		2,048,021			120,314			2,168,335
	* Including unconsolidated investments		5,419			—			5,419
	Three Months Ended September 30, 2012:
	Net revenues from external customers	$	77,612		$	54,685		$	132,297
	Intersegment revenues		—			11,063			11,063
	Operating income		4,681			7,384			12,065
	Segment assets at period end *		2,150,533			107,830			2,258,363
	* Including unconsolidated investments		2,496			980			3,476
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013:
	Net revenues from external customers	$	245,005		$	157,329		$	402,334
	Intersegment revenues		—			29,731			29,731
	Operating income		42,057			33,286			75,343
	Segment assets at period end *		2,048,021			120,314			2,168,335
	* Including unconsolidated investments		5,419			—			5,419
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012:
	Net revenues from external customers	$	238,837		$	149,616		$	388,453
	Intersegment revenues		—			32,970			32,970
	Operating income		35,980			25,067			61,047
	Segment assets at period end *		2,150,533			107,830			2,258,363
	* Including unconsolidated investments		2,496			980			3,476
	Reconciling information between reportable segments and the Company’s consolidated totals is shown in the following table:
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
		(Dollars in thousands)						(Dollars in thousands)
	Operating income	$	29,797		$	12,065		$	75,343		$	61,047
	Interest income		742			280			870			1,004
	Interest expense, net		(18,459	)		(15,400	)		(51,826	)		(44,541	)
	Foreign currency translation and transaction gains (losses)		1,258			615			3,844			(1,127	)
	Income attributable to sale of tax benefits		5,027			2,311			14,342			7,417
	Other non-operating income, net		137			215			1,583			344
	Total income, before income taxes, discontinued operations and equity in losses of investees	$	18,502		$	86		$	44,156		$	24,144

Note_10_Commitments_and_Contin

Note 10 - Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	NOTE 10 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
	On December 24, 2012, Laborers’ International Union of North America Local Union No. 783 (“LiUNA”), an organized labor union, filed a petition in Mono County Superior Court, naming Mono County and the Company as defendant and real party in interest, respectively. The petitioners brought this action to challenge the November 13, 2012 decision of the Mono County Board of Supervisors in adopting Resolutions No. 12-78, denying petitioners’ administrative appeal of the Planning Commission’s approval of Conditional Use Permit (“CUP”), adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) and adoption of the final environmental impact report (“EIR”) for the Mammoth Pacific I replacement project. The petition asked the court to set aside the approval of the CUP and adoption of the EIR and cause a new EIR to be prepared and circulated.
	The Company believes that the petition is without merit and intends to respond and take necessary legal action to dismiss the proceedings. The Company responded to LiUNA’s petition. Filing of the petition in and of itself does not have any immediate adverse implications for the Mammoth enhancement.
	On January 4, 2012, the California Unions for Reliable Energy (“CURE”) filed a petition in Alameda Superior Court, naming the California Energy Commission (“CEC”) and the Company as defendant and real party in interest, respectively. The petition asked the court to order the CEC to vacate its decision which denied, with prejudice, the complaint filed by CURE against the Company with the CEC. The CURE complaint alleged that the Company’s North Brawley Project and East Brawley Project both exceed the CEC’s 50 MW jurisdictional threshold and therefore are subject to the CEC licensing authority rather than Imperial County licensing authority. In addition, the CURE petition asks the court to investigate and halt any ongoing violation of the Warren Alquist Act by the Company, and to award CURE attorney’s fees and costs. As to North Brawley, CURE alleges that the CEC decision violated the Warren Alquist Act because it failed to consider provisions of the County permit for North Brawley, which CURE contends authorizes the Company to build a generating facility with a number of OECs capable of generating more than 50 MW. As to East Brawley, CURE alleges that the CEC decision violated the Warren Alquist Act because it failed to consider the conditional use permit application for East Brawley, which CURE contends shows that the Company requested authorization to build a facility with a number of OECs capable of generating more than 50 MW.
	The court held two hearings and on November 15, 2012, CURE’s petition was denied. Any appeal of the court's decision had to be filed by March 4, 2013, and no appeal was filed.
	From time to time, the Company is named as a party in various other lawsuits, claims and other legal and regulatory proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of its business. These actions typically seek, among other things, compensation for alleged personal injury, breach of contract, property damage, punitive damages, civil penalties or other losses, or injunctive or declaratory relief. With respect to such lawsuits, claims and proceedings, the Company accrues reserves when a loss is probable and the amount of such loss can be reasonably estimated. It is the opinion of the Company’s management that the outcome of these proceedings, individually and collectively, will not be material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements as a whole.

Note_11_Income_Taxes

Note 11 - Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	NOTE 11 — INCOME TAXES
	The Company’s effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 was 28.1% and 1265.1%, respectively. The Company’s effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 was 34.0% and 42.0%, respectively. The effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate of 35% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 primarily due to unbenefited losses in the U.S. and certain foreign jurisdictions, offset by (i) lower tax rates in Israel; and (ii) a tax credit and tax exemption related to the Company’s subsidiaries in Guatemala. The effect of the tax credit and tax exemption for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, was $1,890,000 and $3,429,000, respectively. The effect of the tax credit and tax exemption for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, was $495,000 and $853,000, respectively.
	At December 31, 2012, the Company had U.S. federal net operating loss (“NOLs”) carryforwards of approximately $267.6 million and state NOL carryforwards of approximately $193.4 available to reduce future taxable income, which expire between 2021 and 2032 for federal NOLs and between 2013 and 2032 for state NOLs. Investment tax credits in the amount of $2.0 million at December 31, 2012 are available for a 20-year period and expire between 2022 and 2024. Production tax credits (“PTCs”) in the amount of $69.0 million at December 31, 2012 are available for a 20-year period and expire between 2026 and 2032.
	Realization of the deferred tax assets is dependent on generating sufficient taxable income in appropriate jurisdictions prior to expiration of the NOL carryforwards and tax credits. The scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies were considered in determining the amount of valuation allowance. A full valuation allowance was recorded against the U.S. deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2013, as at those points in time it was more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized. If sufficient evidence of the Company’s ability to generate taxable income is established in the future, the Company may be required to reduce this valuation allowance, resulting in income tax benefits in its consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
	The Company believes that based on its plans to increase the operations outside of the U.S., the cash generated from the Company’s operations outside of the U.S. will be reinvested outside of the U.S. In addition, the Company’s U.S. sources of cash and liquidity are sufficient to meet its needs in the U.S. and, accordingly, the Company does not currently plan to repatriate the funds it has designated as being permanently invested outside the U.S. If the Company changes its plans, it may be required to accrue and pay U.S. taxes to repatriate these funds.
	The Company’s subsidiary, Ormat Systems Ltd. (“Ormat Systems”), received “Benefited Enterprise” status under Israel’s Law for Encouragement of Capital Investments, 1959 (the “Investment Law”), with respect to two of its investment programs. As a Benefited Enterprise, Ormat Systems was exempt from Israeli income taxes with respect to income derived from the first benefited investment for a period of two years beginning in 2004, and thereafter such income was subject to reduced Israeli income tax rates, which will not exceed 25% for an additional five years until 2010. Ormat Systems was also exempt from Israeli income taxes with respect to income derived from the second benefited investment for a period of two years beginning in 2007. Thereafter, such income is subject to reduced Israeli income tax rates, which will not exceed 25% for an additional five years until 2013. These benefits are subject to certain conditions, including among other things, that all transactions between Ormat Systems and its affiliates are done on an arm’s length basis, and that the management of Ormat Systems will be located in, and the control will be conducted from, Israel during the entire period of the tax benefits. A change in control of Ormat Systems would need to be reported to the Israel Tax Authority in order for Ormat Systems to maintain the tax benefits. In January 2011, new legislation amending the Investment Law was enacted. Under the new legislation, a uniform rate of corporate tax will apply to all qualified income of certain industrial companies, as opposed to the previous law’s incentives that are limited to income from a “Benefited Enterprise” during their benefits period. According to the amendment, the uniform tax rate applicable to the zone where the production facilities of Ormat Systems are located would be 15% in 2011 and 2012, 12.5% in 2013 and 2014, and 12% in 2015 and thereafter. Under the transitory provisions of the new legislation, Ormat Systems had the option either to irrevocably comply with the new law while waiving benefits provided under the previous law or to continue to comply with the previous law during a transition period with the option to move from the previous law to the new law at any stage. Ormat Systems decided to irrevocably comply with the new law starting in 2011.
	In November 2012, new legislation amending the Investment Law was enacted. Under the new legislation, companies that have retained earnings as of December 31, 2011 from Benefited Enterprises may elect by November 11, 2013 to pay a reduced corporate tax rate set forth in the new legislation on such undistributed income and distribute a dividend from such income without being required to pay additional corporate tax with respect to such income. A company that makes this election will be required to make certain investments in its Benefited Enterprise by: (i) purchasing productive assets (other than buildings); (ii) investing in research and development in Israel; and/or (iii) paying salaries of new employees (other than directors and officers of the company) of the Benefited Enterprise. The number of new employees for these purposes will be determined in comparison to the number of employees employed by the Benefited Enterprise at the end of 2011. Such investment must be made over a period of five years commencing in the tax year in which the election is made. The amount of the required investment is determined pursuant to a formula set forth in the new legislation. A company that makes the election allowed under the new legislation cannot later undo its election. As of the date of this quarterly report Ormat Systems has not yet decided whether to make such election.
	A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013		2012
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Balance at beginning of period	$	7,280	$	5,875
	Additions based on tax positions taken in prior years		901		1,264
	Additions based on tax positions taken in current year		697		—
	Balance at end of period	$	8,878	$	7,139

Note_12_ORTP_Tax_Monetization_

Note 12 - ORTP Tax Monetization Transaction	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Disclosure Of Investments In And Advances To Affiliates [Abstract]	'
Disclosure Of Investments In And Advances To Affiliates [Text Block]	'
	NOTE 12 — ORTP TAX MONETIZATION TRANSACTION
	On January 24, 2013, Ormat Nevada entered into agreements with JP Morgan (“JPM”) under which JPM purchased interests in a newly formed subsidiary of Ormat Nevada, ORTP, LLC (“ORTP”), entitling JPM to certain tax benefits (such as PTCs and accelerated depreciation) associated with certain geothermal power plants in California and Nevada.
	Under the terms of the transaction, Ormat Nevada transferred the Heber complex, the Mammoth complex, the Ormesa complex, and the Steamboat 2 and 3, Burdette (Galena 1) and Brady power plants to ORTP, and sold class B membership units in ORTP to JPM. In connection with the closing, JPM paid approximately $35.7 million to Ormat Nevada and will make additional payments to ORTP of 25% of the value of PTCs generated by the portfolio over time. The additional payments are expected to be made until December 31, 2016 and total approximately $8.7 million.
	Ormat Nevada will continue to operate and maintain the power plants. Under the agreements, Ormat Nevada will initially receive all of the distributable cash flow generated by the power plants, while JPM will receive substantially all of PTCs and the taxable income or loss (together, the “Economic Benefits”). JPM’s return is limited by the terms of the transaction. Once JPM reaches a target after-tax yield on its investment in ORTP (the “ORTP Flip Date”), Ormat Nevada will receive 97.5% of the distributable cash and 95% of the taxable income, on a going forward basis. At any time during the twelve-month period after the end of the fiscal year in which the ORTP Flip Date occurs (but no earlier than the expiration of five years following the date that the last of the power plants was placed in service for purposes of federal income taxes), Ormat Nevada also has the option to buy out JPM’s remaining interest in ORTP at the then-current fair market value. If Ormat Nevada were to exercise this purchase option, it would become the sole owner of the power plants again.
	The Class B membership units entitle the holder to 5.0% (allocation of income and loss) and 2.5% (allocation of cash) residual economic interest in ORTP. The 5.0% and 2.5% residual interest commences on achievement by JPM of a contractually stipulated return that triggers the ORTP Flip Date. The actual ORTP Flip Date is not known with certainty. This residual 5.0% and 2.5% interest represents a noncontrolling interest and is not subject to mandatory redemption or guaranteed payments.
	The Company’s voting rights in ORTP are based on a capital structure that is comprised of Class A and Class B membership units. Through Ormat Nevada the Company owns all of the Class A membership units, which represent 75% of the voting rights in ORTP. JPM owns all of the Class B membership units, which represent 25% of the voting rights of ORTP. Other than in respect of customary protective rights, all operational decisions in ORTP are decided by the vote of a majority of the membership units. Ormat Nevada retains the controlling voting interest in ORTP both before and after the ORTP Flip Date and therefore will continue to consolidate ORTP.
	For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2013, the impact of the ORTP transaction was a net gain of $2.0 million and $6.1 million, respectively, on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2013, revenues of $3.9 million and $10.3 million, respectively, were recognized in income attributable to the sale of tax benefits and a $1.9 million and $4.2 million finance charge was recognized in interest expense, for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively.

Note_13_Discontinued_Operation

Note 13 - Discontinued Operations	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]	'
Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	NOTE 13 — DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
	On May 30, 2013, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Ormat Holding Corp., sold the Momotombo Power Company (“MPC”), which operates the Momotombo power plant located in Nicaragua, to a third party for $7,751,000 approximately one year before the scheduled termination of the concession arrangement with the Nicaraguan owner. The Company recorded an after-tax gain on sale of approximately $3.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
	In conjunction with the sale, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary and the buyer signed a technical support agreement, whereby the subsidiary will provide technical consulting services, which can be terminated by either party with 60 days advance notice. The Company is of the opinion that the expected continuing cash flows from this agreement are insignificant and that there is no significant continuing involvement by the Company, including its subsidiaries, in the operations of the MPC after the sale. Therefore, the related income from operations prior to the date of the sale and the gain on the sale of the MPC have been included as discontinued operations in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for all comparative periods presented.
	The summarized financial information related to the discontinued operations is as follows:
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
		(Dollars in thousands)						(Dollars in thousands)
	Revenues - electricity	$	—		$	3,840		$	4,866		$	9,873
	Cost of revenues - electricity:		—			1,542			2,869			4,565
	Gross margin		—			2,298			1,997			5,308
	Operating expenses:
	Selling and marketing expenses		—			99			192			281
	General and administrative expenses		—			76			140			152
	Operating income		—			2,123			1,665			4,875
	Income from discontinued operations before income taxes		—			2,123			5,311			4,875
	Income tax provision		—			(391	)		(614	)		(1,097	)
	Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	$	—		$	1,732		$	4,697		$	3,778
	The net assets of the MPC as of May 30, 2013 were as follows:
		(Dollars
		in thousands)
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	52
	Accounts receivable		2,274
	Prepaid expenses and other		167
	Property, plant and equipment		3,935
	Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(493	)
	Deferred income taxes		(442	)
	Accrued severance pay		(313	)
	Other liabilities		(590	)
	Net assets	$	4,590

Note_14_Cash_Dividend

Note 14 - Cash Dividend	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]	'
Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	NOTE 14 — CASH DIVIDEND
	On August 6, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors declared, approved and authorized payment of a quarterly dividend of $1.8 million ($0.04 per share) to all holders of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock on August 19, 2013. Such dividend was paid on August 29, 2013.

Note_15_Subsequent_Events

Note 15 - Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Subsequent Events [Abstract]	'
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	'
	NOTE 15 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
	Swap contract on natural gas prices
	On October 16, 2013, the Company entered into a NGI swap contract for notional volume of approximately 4.2 million MMbtus with a bank for settlement effective January 1, 2014 until December 31, 2014, in order to reduce its exposure to NGI below $4.103 per MMbtu under its PPAs with Southern California Edison. The contract did not have any up-front costs. Under the term of this contract, the Company will make floating rate payments to the bank and receive fixed rate payments from the bank on each settlement date. The swap contract has monthly settlements whereby the difference between the fixed price of $4.103 per MMbtu and the market price on the first commodity business day on which the relevant commodity reference price is published in the relevant calculation period (January 1, 2014 to December 1, 2014) will be settled on a cash basis. This contract will not be designated as a hedge transaction and will be marked to market with the corresponding gains or losses recognized within “electricity revenues” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
	Swap contract on New York Harbor ULSD
	On October 16, 2013, the Company entered into a New York Harbor ULSD swap contract for notional volume of 275,000 BBL with a bank effective from January 1, 2014 until December 31, 2014 to reduce the Company’s exposure to fluctuations in the energy rate caused by fluctuations in oil prices under the 25 MW PPA for the Puna complex. The Company entered into this contract because the swap had a high correlation with the avoided costs (which are incremental costs that the power purchaser avoids by not having to generate such electrical energy itself or purchase it from others) that HELCO uses to calculate the energy rate. The contract did not have any up-front costs. Under the term of this contract, the Company will make floating rate payments to the bank and receive fixed rate payments from the bank on each settlement date ($125.15 per BBL). The swap contract has monthly settlements whereby the difference between the fixed price and the monthly average market price will be settled on a cash basis. This contract will not be designated as a hedge transaction and will be marked to market with the corresponding gains or losses recognized within “electricity revenues” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
	Cash dividend
	On November 5, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors declared, approved and authorized payment of a quarterly dividend of $1.8 million ($0.04 per share) to all holders of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock on November 20, 2013. The dividend will be payable on December 4, 2013.

Note_1_General_and_Basis_of_Pr1

Note 1 - General and Basis of Presentation (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Disclosure Text Block [Abstract]	'
Condensed Balance Sheet [Table Text Block]	'
		As of December 31, 2012
		As reported			Adjustment			As revised
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Deferred income taxes	$	53,989		$	(32,706	)	$	21,283
	Property, plant and equipment, net		1,226,758			26,115			1,252,873
	Total assets		2,094,114			(6,591	)		2,087,523
	Accumulated deficit		(37,735	)		(6,591	)		(44,326	)
	Total equity		702,189			(6,591	)		695,607
	Total liabilities and equity		2,094,114			(6,591	)		2,087,523
		As of March 31, 2013
		As reported			Adjustment			As revised
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Deferred income taxes	$	52,939		$	(35,758	)	$	17,181
	Property, plant and equipment, net		1,207,410			26,115			1,233,525
	Total assets		2,143,568			(9,643	)		2,133,925
	Accumulated deficit		(39,717	)		(9,643	)		(49,360	)
	Total equity		706,519			(9,643	)		696,876
	Total liabilities and equity		2,143,568			(9,643	)		2,133,925
Condensed Income Statement [Table Text Block]	'
		Year Ended December 31, 2012
		As reported			Adjustment			As revised
		(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
	Income tax benefit (provision)	$	3,500		$	(6,591	)	$	(3,091	)
	Loss from continuing operations		(206,016	)		(6,591	)		(212,607	)
	Net loss		(206,016	)		(6,591	)		(212,607	)
	Net loss attributable to the Company's stockholders	$	(206,430	)	$	(6,591	)	$	(213,021	)
	Comprehensive loss		(205,960	)		(6,591	)		212,551
	Comprehensive loss attributable to the Company's stockholders	$	(206,374	)	$	(6,591	)	$	212,965
	Loss per share attributable to the Company's stockholders:
	Basic and diluted	$	(4.54	)	$	(0.15	)	$	(4.69	)
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
		As reported			Adjustment			As revised
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Income tax benefit (provision)	$	(1,217	)	$	(3,052	)	$	(4,269	)
	Loss from continuing operations		(1,897	)		(3,052	)		(4,949	)
	Net loss		(1,897	)		(3,052	)		(4,949	)
	Net loss attributable to the Company's stockholders	$	(1,982	)	$	(3,052	)	$	(5,034	)
	Comprehensive loss:
	Net loss		(1,897	)		(3,052	)		(4,949	)
	Comprehensive loss		(1,939	)		(3,052	)		(4,991	)
	Comprehensive loss attributable to the Company's stockholders	$	2,024		$	(3,052	)	$	(5,076	)
	Loss per share attributable to the Company's stockholders:
	Basic and diluted	$	(0.04	)	$	(0.07	)	$	(0.11	)
Condensed Cash Flow Statement [Table Text Block]	'
		Year Ended December 31, 2012
		As reported			Adjustment			As revised
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Cash flows from operating activities:
	Net loss	$	(206,016	)	$	(6,591	)	$	(212,607	)
	Deferred income tax provision (benefit)		(11,327	)		6,591			(4,736	)
	Net cash provided by operating activities	$	89,471		$	-		$	89,471
		Three Months Ended March 31, 2013
		As reported			Adjustment			As revised
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Cash flows from operating activities:
	Net loss	$	(1,897	)	$	(3,052	)	$	(4,949	)
	Deferred income tax provision		668			3,052			3,720
	Net cash provided by operating activities	$	18,216		$	-		$	18,216

Note_3_Inventories_Tables

Note 3 - Inventories (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block]	'
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Raw materials and purchased parts for assembly	$	10,034	$	9,775
	Self-manufactured assembly parts and finished products		10,362		10,894
	Total	$	20,396	$	20,669

Note_4_Unconsolidated_Investme1

Note 4 - Unconsolidated Investments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]	'
Equity Method Investments [Table Text Block]	'
		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2012
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Sarulla	$	5,419	$	2,591

Note_5_Fair_Value_of_Financial1

Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping [Table Text Block]	'
							Fair Value at September 30, 2013
				Cost or			Total				Level 1				Level 2				Level 3
				Amortized
				Cost at September 30, 2013
			(Dollars in thousands)
	Assets
	Current assets:
	Cash equivalents (including restricted cash accounts)		$	67,234			$	67,234			$	67,234			$	—			$	—
	Derivatives:
	Put options on oil price(1)			—				142				—				142				—
	Currency forward contracts(2)			—				2,952				—				2,952				—
	Swap transaction on natural gas price(3)			—				1,353				—				1,353				—
			$	67,234			$	71,681			$	67,234			$	4,447			$	—
							Fair Value at December 31, 2012
							Total				Level 1				Level 2				Level 3
				Cost or
				Amortized
				Cost at
				31-Dec-12
			(Dollars in thousands)
	Assets
	Current assets:
	Cash equivalents (including restricted cash accounts)		$	54,298			$	54,298			$	54,298			$	—			$	—
	Derivatives:
	Put options on oil price(1)			—				1,842				—				1,842				—
	Currency forward contracts(2)			—				1,675				—				1,675				—
	Swap transaction on natural gas price(3)			—				2,804				—				2,804				—
	Swap transaction on oil price(4)			—				336				—				336				—
			$	54,298			$	60,955			$	54,298			$	6,657			$	—
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Table Text Block]	'
				Amount of recognized gain (loss)
	Derivatives not designated	Location of recognized		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
	as hedging instruments	gain (loss)		September 30,								September 30,
				2013				2012				2013				2012
				(Dollars in thousands)								(Dollars in thousands)
	Put options on oil price	Electricity revenues		$	(824	)		$	(198	)		$	(1,256	)		$	(198	)
	Swap transaction on oil price	Electricity revenues			—				(3,197	)			(294	)			1,123
	Swap transactions on natural gas price	Electricity revenues			477				(421	)			81				(872	)
	Currency forward contracts	Foreign currency translation and transaction gains (losses)			1,970				(137	)			4,895				(774	)
				$	1,623			$	(3,953	)		$	3,426			$	(721	)
Schedule of Carrying Values and Estimated Fair Values of Debt Instruments [Table Text Block]	'
			Fair Value								Carrying Amount
			September 30,				December 31,				September 30,				December 31,
			2013				2012				2013				2012
			(Dollars in millions)								(Dollars in millions)
	Olkaria III loan - DEG		$	44.7			$	48.8			$	43.4			$	47.4
	Olkaria III Loan - OPIC			241.4				220				258.8				220
	Amatitlan loan			35.7				38.9				32.2				34.3
	Senior secured notes:
	Ormat Funding LLC ("OFC")			88.5				105				96.2				114.1
	OrCal Geothermal LLC ("OrCal")			74.8				77.3				74				76.5
	OFC 2 LLC ("OFC 2")			121.3				131.2				146.6				150.5
	Senior unsecured bonds			265.8				273.2				250.7				250.9
	Loans from institutional investors			22.2				27.7				21.5				27
Fair Value, Measurement Inputs, Disclosure [Text Block]	'
			Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
			(Dollars in millions)
	Olkaria III loan - DEG		$	—			$	—			$	44.7			$	44.7
	Olkaria III loan - OPIC			—				—				241.4				241.4
	Amatitlan loan			—				—				35.7				35.7
	Senior secured notes:
	OFC			—				88.5				—				88.5
	OrCal			—				—				74.8				74.8
	OFC 2			—				—				121.3				121.3
	Senior unsecured bonds			—				—				265.8				265.8
	Loan from institutional investors			—				—				22.2				22.2
	Other long-term debt			—				28.3				—				28.3
	Revolving lines of credit			—				123.3				—				123.3
	Deposits			21				—				—				21

Note_6_StockBased_Compensation1

Note 6 - Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block]	'
	Risk-free interest rates	0.57%
	Expected lives (in years)	4.25
	Dividend yield	0.80%
	Expected volatility	35.76%
	Forfeiture rate	0.00%
	Risk-free interest rates	0.77%
	Expected lives (in years)	4.625
	Dividend yield	0.70%
	Expected volatility	38.13%
	Forfeiture rate	6.37%

Note_7_Interest_Expense_Net_Ta

Note 7 - Interest Expense, Net (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Interest Expense Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Other Nonoperating Expense, by Component [Table Text Block]	'
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
		(Dollars in thousands)						(Dollars in thousands)
	Interest related to sale of tax benefits	$	3,479		$	1,580		$	9,233		$	5,140
	Other interest expense		16,811			16,301			48,820			48,968
	Less — amount capitalized		(1,831	)		(2,481	)		(6,227	)		(9,567	)
		$	18,459		$	15,400		$	51,826		$	44,541

Note_8_Earnings_Loss_Per_Share1

Note 8 - Earnings (Loss) Per Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Weighted Average Number of Shares [Table Text Block]	'
		Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
		September 30,				September 30,
		2013		2012		2013		2012
		(In thousands)				(In thousands)
	Weighted average number of shares used in computation of basic earnings per share		45,438		45,431		45,433		45,431
	Add:
	Additional shares from the assumed exercise of employee stock-based awards		56		—		21		7
	Weighted average number of shares used in computation of diluted earnings per share		45,494		45,431		45,454		45,438

Note_9_Business_Segments_Table

Note 9 - Business Segments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]	'
		Electricity			Product			Consolidated
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Three Months Ended September 30, 2013:
	Net revenues from external customers	$	88,994		$	41,755		$	130,749
	Intersegment revenues		—			4,329			4,329
	Operating income		20,732			9,065			29,797
	Segment assets at period end *		2,048,021			120,314			2,168,335
	* Including unconsolidated investments		5,419			—			5,419
	Three Months Ended September 30, 2012:
	Net revenues from external customers	$	77,612		$	54,685		$	132,297
	Intersegment revenues		—			11,063			11,063
	Operating income		4,681			7,384			12,065
	Segment assets at period end *		2,150,533			107,830			2,258,363
	* Including unconsolidated investments		2,496			980			3,476
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013:
	Net revenues from external customers	$	245,005		$	157,329		$	402,334
	Intersegment revenues		—			29,731			29,731
	Operating income		42,057			33,286			75,343
	Segment assets at period end *		2,048,021			120,314			2,168,335
	* Including unconsolidated investments		5,419			—			5,419
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012:
	Net revenues from external customers	$	238,837		$	149,616		$	388,453
	Intersegment revenues		—			32,970			32,970
	Operating income		35,980			25,067			61,047
	Segment assets at period end *		2,150,533			107,830			2,258,363
	* Including unconsolidated investments		2,496			980			3,476
Reconciliation of Revenue and Operating Income from Segments to Consolidated [Text Block]	'
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
		(Dollars in thousands)						(Dollars in thousands)
	Operating income	$	29,797		$	12,065		$	75,343		$	61,047
	Interest income		742			280			870			1,004
	Interest expense, net		(18,459	)		(15,400	)		(51,826	)		(44,541	)
	Foreign currency translation and transaction gains (losses)		1,258			615			3,844			(1,127	)
	Income attributable to sale of tax benefits		5,027			2,311			14,342			7,417
	Other non-operating income, net		137			215			1,583			344
	Total income, before income taxes, discontinued operations and equity in losses of investees	$	18,502		$	86		$	44,156		$	24,144

Note_11_Income_Taxes_Tables

Note 11 - Income Taxes (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Summary of Income Tax Contingencies [Table Text Block]	'
		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2013		2012
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Balance at beginning of period	$	7,280	$	5,875
	Additions based on tax positions taken in prior years		901		1,264
	Additions based on tax positions taken in current year		697		—
	Balance at end of period	$	8,878	$	7,139

Note_13_Discontinued_Operation1

Note 13 - Discontinued Operations (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures [Table Text Block]	'
		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,
		2013			2012			2013			2012
		(Dollars in thousands)						(Dollars in thousands)
	Revenues - electricity	$	—		$	3,840		$	4,866		$	9,873
	Cost of revenues - electricity:		—			1,542			2,869			4,565
	Gross margin		—			2,298			1,997			5,308
	Operating expenses:
	Selling and marketing expenses		—			99			192			281
	General and administrative expenses		—			76			140			152
	Operating income		—			2,123			1,665			4,875
	Income from discontinued operations before income taxes		—			2,123			5,311			4,875
	Income tax provision		—			(391	)		(614	)		(1,097	)
	Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	$	—		$	1,732		$	4,697		$	3,778
Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet [Table Text Block]	'
		(Dollars
		in thousands)
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	52
	Accounts receivable		2,274
	Prepaid expenses and other		167
	Property, plant and equipment		3,935
	Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(493	)
	Deferred income taxes		(442	)
	Accrued severance pay		(313	)
	Other liabilities		(590	)
	Net assets	$	4,590

Note_1_General_and_Basis_of_Pr2

Note 1 - General and Basis of Presentation (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Note 1 - General and Basis of Presentation (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Adjustments	'	$3,100,000	'	'	'	$32,700,000	'
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	40,000	'	47,000	124,000	140,000	'	'
Interest Expense	18,459,000	'	15,400,000	51,826,000	44,541,000	'	'
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	5,201,000	-4,269,000	1,088,000	15,028,000	10,148,000	-3,091,000	'
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments	35,435,000	'	37,524,000	35,435,000	37,524,000	66,628,000	99,886,000
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	60,526,000	'	'	60,526,000	'	55,680,000	'
Percentage of Total Accounts Receivables	62.00%	'	'	62.00%	'	45.00%	'
Southern California Edison Company [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Note 1 - General and Basis of Presentation (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Termination Fees	'	9,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Contract Extension Period	'	'	'	'6 years	'	'	'
Percentage Of Total Revenue	20.90%	'	20.40%	14.90%	19.20%	'	'
Sierra Pacific Power Company And Nevada Power Company [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Note 1 - General and Basis of Presentation (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Percentage Of Total Revenue	15.30%	'	14.50%	17.00%	14.20%	'	'
Kenya Power And Lighting Co Limited [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Note 1 - General and Basis of Presentation (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Percentage Of Total Revenue	13.80%	'	8.80%	10.90%	8.00%	'	'
Domestic Tax Authority [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Note 1 - General and Basis of Presentation (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments	14,065,000	'	'	14,065,000	'	41,231,000	'
Deposit Insurance Per Depositor (in Dollars per Item)	250,000	'	'	250,000	'	'	'
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Note 1 - General and Basis of Presentation (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments	40,320,000	'	'	40,320,000	'	33,215,000	'
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	23,272,000	'	'	23,272,000	'	17,606,000	'
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Note 1 - General and Basis of Presentation (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Interest Expense	65,000	'	76,000	200,000	228,000	'	'
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	25,000	'	29,000	76,000	88,000	'	'
Deferred Income Tax Charge [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Note 1 - General and Basis of Presentation (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Adjustments	'	3,100,000	'	'	'	6,600,000	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Note 1 - General and Basis of Presentation (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Adjustments	'	'	'	'	'	$26,100,000	'

Note_1_General_and_Basis_of_Pr3

Note 1 - General and Basis of Presentation (Details) - Effect of Revision on Line Items in Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'		'	'	'		'
Deferred income taxes	'		$17,181	$21,283	'		'
Property, plant and equipment	1,383,353		1,233,525	1,252,873	'		'
Total assets	2,168,335	[1]	2,133,925	2,087,523	2,258,363	[1]	'
Accumulated deficit	-13,066		-49,360	-44,326	'		'
Total equity	736,970		696,876	695,607	923,154		906,644
Total liabilities and equity	2,168,335		2,133,925	2,087,523	'		'
Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	'		'	'	'		'
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'		'	'	'		'
Deferred income taxes	'		52,939	53,989	'		'
Property, plant and equipment	'		1,207,410	1,226,758	'		'
Total assets	'		2,143,568	2,094,114	'		'
Accumulated deficit	'		-39,717	-37,735	'		'
Total equity	'		706,519	702,189	'		'
Total liabilities and equity	'		2,143,568	2,094,114	'		'
Restatement Adjustment [Member]	'		'	'	'		'
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'		'	'	'		'
Deferred income taxes	'		-35,758	-32,706	'		'
Property, plant and equipment	'		26,115	26,115	'		'
Total assets	'		-9,643	-6,591	'		'
Accumulated deficit	'		-9,643	-6,591	'		'
Total equity	'		-9,643	-6,591	'		'
Total liabilities and equity	'		($9,643)	($6,591)	'		'
[1]	Including unconsolidated investments

Note_1_General_and_Basis_of_Pr4

Note 1 - General and Basis of Presentation (Details) - Effect of Revision on Line Items in Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Income tax benefit (provision)	$5,201,000	($4,269,000)	$1,088,000	$15,028,000	$10,148,000	($3,091,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	13,143,000	-4,949,000	-2,247,000	28,979,000	12,454,000	-212,607,000
Net income (loss)	13,143,000	-4,949,000	-515,000	33,676,000	16,232,000	-212,607,000
Net income (loss) attributable to the Company's stockholders	12,950,000	-5,034,000	-582,000	33,076,000	15,954,000	-213,021,000
Comprehensive income (loss)	13,103,000	-4,991,000	-300,000	33,552,000	16,334,000	212,551,000
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company's stockholders	12,892,000	-5,076,000	-367,000	32,952,000	16,056,000	212,965,000
Loss per share attributable to the Company's stockholders:	'	'	'	'	'	'
Earnings per share - basic and diluted (in Dollars per share)	'	($110)	'	'	'	($4,690)
Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Income tax benefit (provision)	'	-1,217,000	'	'	'	3,500,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations	'	-1,897,000	'	'	'	-206,016,000
Net income (loss)	'	-1,897,000	'	'	'	-206,016,000
Net income (loss) attributable to the Company's stockholders	'	-1,982,000	'	'	'	-206,430,000
Comprehensive income (loss)	'	-1,939,000	'	'	'	-205,960,000
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company's stockholders	'	2,024,000	'	'	'	-206,374,000
Loss per share attributable to the Company's stockholders:	'	'	'	'	'	'
Earnings per share - basic and diluted (in Dollars per share)	'	($40)	'	'	'	($4,540)
Scenario, Adjustment [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Income tax benefit (provision)	'	-3,052,000	'	'	'	-6,591,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations	'	-3,052,000	'	'	'	-6,591,000
Net income (loss)	'	-3,052,000	'	'	'	-6,591,000
Net income (loss) attributable to the Company's stockholders	'	-3,052,000	'	'	'	-6,591,000
Comprehensive income (loss)	'	-3,052,000	'	'	'	-6,591,000
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company's stockholders	'	($3,052,000)	'	'	'	($6,591,000)
Loss per share attributable to the Company's stockholders:	'	'	'	'	'	'
Earnings per share - basic and diluted (in Dollars per share)	'	($70)	'	'	'	($150)

Note_1_General_and_Basis_of_Pr5

Note 1 - General and Basis of Presentation (Details) - Effect of Revision on Line Items in Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	($4,949)	$33,676	$16,232	($212,607)
Deferred income tax provision	3,720	14,235	5,894	-4,736
Net cash provided by operating activities	18,216	32,226	62,384	89,471
Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]	'	'	'	'
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	-1,897	'	'	-206,016
Deferred income tax provision	668	'	'	-11,327
Net cash provided by operating activities	18,216	'	'	89,471
Restatement Adjustment [Member]	'	'	'	'
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	-3,052	'	'	-6,591
Deferred income tax provision	$3,052	'	'	$6,591

Note_3_Inventories_Details_Inv

Note 3 - Inventories (Details) - Inventories, Current (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventories, Current [Abstract]	'	'
Raw materials and purchased parts for assembly	$10,034	$9,775
Self-manufactured assembly parts and finished products	10,362	10,894
Total	$20,396	$20,669

Note_4_Unconsolidated_Investme2

Note 4 - Unconsolidated Investments (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Sarulla [Member]	'
Note 4 - Unconsolidated Investments (Details) [Line Items]	'
Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Proportionate Ownership Share	12.75%
Expected Power Generating Capacity	330
Contract Effective Date	4-Apr-13
Power Plant Usage Agreement Term	'30 years
Number Of Phases Of Construction	3
Power Utilization	110
Expected Period To Begin Construction	'1 year
Period To Start Remaining Phases Of Construction After Commencement Of First Phase	'18 months
Watts And More Ltd [Member]	'
Note 4 - Unconsolidated Investments (Details) [Line Items]	'
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent	60.00%

Note_4_Unconsolidated_Investme3

Note 4 - Unconsolidated Investments (Details) - Unconsolidated Investments Mainly in Power Plants (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'
Sarulla	$5,419	$2,591	$3,476
Sarulla [Member]	'	'	'
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'
Sarulla	$5,419	$2,591	'

Note_5_Fair_Value_of_Financial2

Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value Information for Financial Assets and Liabilities, as well as Cost or Amortized Cost (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'		'
Cash equivalents (including restricted cash accounts)	$67,234		$54,298
Derivatives:	'		'
Asset Net	71,681		60,955
Put Option [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Derivative Assets	'	[1]	'	[1]
Put Option [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Derivative Assets	142	[1]	1,842	[1]
Put Option [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Derivative Assets	'	[1]	'	[1]
Put Option [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Derivative Assets	142	[1]	1,842	[1]
Put Option [Member] | Portion at Other than Fair Value Measurement [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Derivative Assets	'	[1]	'	[1]
Forward Contracts [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Derivative Assets	'	[2]	'	[2]
Forward Contracts [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Derivative Assets	2,952	[2]	1,675	[2]
Forward Contracts [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Derivative Assets	'	[2]	'	[2]
Forward Contracts [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Derivative Assets	2,952	[2]	1,675	[2]
Forward Contracts [Member] | Portion at Other than Fair Value Measurement [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Derivative Assets	'	[2]	'	[2]
Natural Gas Price Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Derivative Assets	'	[3]	'	[3]
Natural Gas Price Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Derivative Assets	1,353	[3]	2,804	[3]
Natural Gas Price Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Derivative Assets	'	[3]	'	[3]
Natural Gas Price Swap [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Derivative Assets	1,353	[3]	2,804	[3]
Natural Gas Price Swap [Member] | Portion at Other than Fair Value Measurement [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Derivative Assets	'	[3]	'	[3]
Crude Oil Price Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Derivative Assets	'		'	[4]
Crude Oil Price Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Derivative Assets	'		336	[4]
Crude Oil Price Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Derivative Assets	'		'	[4]
Crude Oil Price Swap [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Derivative Assets	'		336	[4]
Crude Oil Price Swap [Member] | Portion at Other than Fair Value Measurement [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Derivative Assets	'		'	[4]
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'		'
Current assets:	'		'
Cash equivalents (including restricted cash accounts)	67,234		54,298
Derivatives:	'		'
Asset Net	67,234		54,298
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Asset Net	4,447		6,657
Portion at Other than Fair Value Measurement [Member]	'		'
Current assets:	'		'
Cash equivalents (including restricted cash accounts)	67,234		54,298
Derivatives:	'		'
Asset Net	$67,234		$54,298
[1]	This amount relates to derivatives which represent European put transactions on oil prices, valued primarily based on observable inputs, including forward and spot prices for related commodity indices, and are included within "prepaid expenses and other" in the condensed consolidated balance sheet with the corresponding gain or loss being recognized within "electricity revenues" in the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
[2]	This amount relates to derivatives which represent currency forward contracts, valued primarily based on observable inputs, including forward and spot prices for currencies, netted against contracted rates and then multiplied against notational amounts, and are included within "prepaid expenses and other" in the condensed consolidated balance sheet with the corresponding gain or loss being recognized within "foreign currency translation and transaction gains (losses)" in the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
[3]	This amount relates to derivatives which represent swap contracts on natural gas prices, valued primarily based on observable inputs, including forward and spot prices for related commodity indices, and are included within "prepaid expenses and other" in the condensed consolidated balance sheet with the corresponding gain or loss being recognized within "electricity revenues" in the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss).
[4]	This amount relates to derivatives which represent swap contracts on oil prices, valued primarily based on observable inputs, including forward and spot prices for related commodity indices, and are included within "prepaid expenses and other" in the condensed consolidated balance sheet with the corresponding gain or loss being recognized within "electricity revenues" in the condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

Note_5_Fair_Value_of_Financial3

Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Amounts of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Condensed Consolidated Statements on Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedges (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Amount of gain (loss) recognized	$1,623	($3,953)	$3,426	($721)
Electricity Revenues [Member] | Crude Oil Price Swap [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Amount of gain (loss) recognized	'	-3,197	-294	1,123
Electricity Revenues [Member] | Natural Gas Price Swap [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Amount of gain (loss) recognized	477	-421	81	-872
Electricity Revenues [Member] | Put Option [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Amount of gain (loss) recognized	-824	-198	-1,256	-198
Foreign Currency Gain (Loss) [Member] | Forward Contracts [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Amount of gain (loss) recognized	$1,970	($137)	$4,895	($774)

Note_5_Fair_Value_of_Financial4

Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates Its Carrying Amount, Exceptions (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Olkaria III - DEG [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates Its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Loan	$44.70	'
Olkaria III - OPIC [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates Its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Loan	241.4	'
Amatitlan Member	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates Its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Loan	35.7	'
Ormat Funding Corp [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates Its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Senior Secured Notes	88.5	'
Orcal Geothermal Inc [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates Its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Senior Secured Notes	74.8	'
OFC Two Senior Secured Notes [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates Its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Senior Secured Notes	121.3	'
Senior Unsecured Bonds Member	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates Its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Senior unsecured bonds	265.8	'
Institutional Investors [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates Its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Loans from institutional investors	22.2	'
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Olkaria III - DEG [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates Its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Loan	44.7	48.8
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Olkaria III - OPIC [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates Its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Loan	241.4	220
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Amatitlan Member	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates Its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Loan	35.7	38.9
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Ormat Funding Corp [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates Its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Senior Secured Notes	88.5	105
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Orcal Geothermal Inc [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates Its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Senior Secured Notes	74.8	77.3
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | OFC Two Senior Secured Notes [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates Its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Senior Secured Notes	121.3	131.2
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Senior Unsecured Bonds Member	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates Its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Senior unsecured bonds	265.8	273.2
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Institutional Investors [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates Its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Loans from institutional investors	22.2	27.7
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Olkaria III - DEG [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates Its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Loan	43.4	47.4
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Olkaria III - OPIC [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates Its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Loan	258.8	220
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Amatitlan Member	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates Its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Loan	32.2	34.3
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Ormat Funding Corp [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates Its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Senior Secured Notes	96.2	114.1
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Orcal Geothermal Inc [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates Its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Senior Secured Notes	74	76.5
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | OFC Two Senior Secured Notes [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates Its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Senior Secured Notes	146.6	150.5
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Senior Unsecured Bonds Member	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates Its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Senior unsecured bonds	250.7	250.9
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | Institutional Investors [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates Its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Loans from institutional investors	$21.50	$27

Note_5_Fair_Value_of_Financial5

Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'
Other long-term debt	$28.30
Revolving lines of credit	123.3
Deposits	21
Olkaria III - DEG [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'
Loan	44.7
Olkaria III - DEG [Member]	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'
Loan	44.7
Olkaria III - OPIC [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'
Loan	241.4
Olkaria III - OPIC [Member]	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'
Loan	241.4
Amatitlan Member | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'
Loan	35.7
Amatitlan Member	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'
Loan	35.7
Ormat Funding Corp [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'
Senior Secured Notes	88.5
Ormat Funding Corp [Member]	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'
Senior Secured Notes	88.5
Orcal Geothermal Inc [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'
Senior Secured Notes	74.8
Orcal Geothermal Inc [Member]	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'
Senior Secured Notes	74.8
OFC Two Senior Secured Notes [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'
Senior Secured Notes	121.3
OFC Two Senior Secured Notes [Member]	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'
Senior Secured Notes	121.3
Senior Unsecured Bonds Member | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'
Senior unsecured bonds	265.8
Senior Unsecured Bonds Member	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'
Senior unsecured bonds	265.8
Institutional Investors [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'
Loan from institutional investors	22.2
Institutional Investors [Member]	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'
Loan from institutional investors	22.2
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'
Deposits	21
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'
Other long-term debt	28.3
Revolving lines of credit	$123.30

Note_6_StockBased_Compensation2

Note 6 - Stock-Based Compensation (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	31-May-12	Apr. 03, 2013	31-May-12	Dec. 31, 2004	Apr. 03, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 04, 2013	31-May-12
		Stock Options And Stock Appreciation Rights [Member]	Employee Stock Option [Member]	Non Employee Director [Member]	2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]	2012 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]	2012 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]	2012 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]	2012 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]
		2012 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]	2012 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]	2012 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]		Chief Financial Officer [Member]	Chief Financial Officer [Member]
			Chief Financial Officer [Member]
Note 6 - Stock-Based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Shares Authorized for Issuance (in Shares)	'	'	'	'	3,750,000	'	'	'	'
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vesting Percentage Year Two	'	'	'	'	25.00%	'	'	'	'
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vesting Percentage Year Three	'	'	'	'	25.00%	'	'	'	'
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vesting Percentage Year Four	'	'	'	'	50.00%	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period	'	'	'4 years	'	'1 year	'	'	'4 years	'
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Awards Exercise Period	'	'	'	'	'10 years	'	'	'	'10 years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized (in Shares)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	4,000,000
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Vesting Percentage Year Two	'	25.00%	'	'	'	'	'	25.00%	'
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Vesting Percentage Year Three	'	25.00%	'	'	'	'	'	25.00%	'
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Vesting Percentage Year Four	'	50.00%	'	'	'	'	'	50.00%	'
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vesting Period	'	'	'	'1 year	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Net of Forfeitures (in Shares)	'	'	'	'	'	120,000	'	1,150,100	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in Dollars per share)	'	'	'	'	'	$20.54	'	$23.34	'
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Option Expiration Period	'	'	'	'	'	'6 years	'	'6 years	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (in Dollars per share)	'	'	'	'	'	$5.64	'	$7.21	'
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By-Share Based Payment Award, Forfeiture Rate (in Dollars)	$0.07	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By-Share Based Payment Award, Increase (Decrease) in Forfeiture Rate (in Dollars)	'	'	'	'	'	'	$0.01	'	'

Note_6_StockBased_Compensation3

Note 6 - Stock-Based Compensation (Details) - Fair Value of Each SAR Using Black-Scholes Valuation Model Assumptions (2012 Stock Incentive Plan [Member])	0 Months Ended
	Apr. 03, 2013	Jun. 04, 2013
	Chief Financial Officer [Member]
Note 6 - Stock-Based Compensation (Details) - Fair Value of Each SAR Using Black-Scholes Valuation Model Assumptions [Line Items]	'	'
Risk-free interest rates	0.57%	0.77%
Expected lives (in years)	'4 years 3 months	'4 years 228 days
Dividend yield	0.80%	0.70%
Expected volatility	35.76%	38.13%
Forfeiture rate	0.00%	6.37%

Note_7_Interest_Expense_Net_De

Note 7 - Interest Expense, Net (Details) - Components of Interest Expense (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Components of Interest Expense [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Interest related to sale of tax benefits	$3,479	$1,580	$9,233	$5,140
Other interest expense	16,811	16,301	48,820	48,968
Less b amount capitalized	-1,831	-2,481	-6,227	-9,567
	$18,459	$15,400	$51,826	$44,541

Note_8_Earnings_Loss_Per_Share2

Note 8 - Earnings (Loss) Per Share (Details)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	4,999,298	5,423,548	5,312,238	5,663,796

Note_8_Earnings_Loss_Per_Share3

Note 8 - Earnings (Loss) Per Share (Details) - Reconciliation of Number of Shares Used in Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Reconciliation of Number of Shares Used in Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Weighted average number of shares used in computation of basic earnings per share	45,438	45,431	45,433	45,431
Additional shares from the assumed exercise of employee stock-based awards	56	'	21	7
Weighted average number of shares used in computation of diluted earnings per share	45,494	45,431	45,454	45,438

Note_9_Business_Segments_Detai

Note 9 - Business Segments (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Number of Reportable Segments	2

Note_9_Business_Segments_Detai1

Note 9 - Business Segments (Details) - Summarized Financial Information Concerning Reportable Segments (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'		'		'		'		'	'
Net revenues from external customers	$130,749		$132,297		$402,334		$388,453		'	'
Operating income	29,797		12,065		75,343		61,047		'	'
Segment assets at period end *	2,168,335	[1]	2,258,363	[1]	2,168,335	[1]	2,258,363	[1]	2,133,925	2,087,523
* Including unconsolidated investments	5,419		3,476		5,419		3,476		'	2,591
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Product Segment [Member]	'		'		'		'		'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'		'		'		'		'	'
Intersegment revenues	4,329		11,063		29,731		32,970		'	'
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]	'		'		'		'		'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'		'		'		'		'	'
Intersegment revenues	4,329		11,063		29,731		32,970		'	'
Electricity Member	'		'		'		'		'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'		'		'		'		'	'
Net revenues from external customers	88,994		77,612		245,005		238,837		'	'
Operating income	20,732		4,681		42,057		35,980		'	'
Segment assets at period end *	2,048,021	[1]	2,150,533	[1]	2,048,021	[1]	2,150,533	[1]	'	'
* Including unconsolidated investments	5,419		2,496		5,419		2,496		'	'
Product Segment [Member]	'		'		'		'		'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'		'		'		'		'	'
Net revenues from external customers	41,755		54,685		157,329		149,616		'	'
Operating income	9,065		7,384		33,286		25,067		'	'
Segment assets at period end *	120,314	[1]	107,830	[1]	120,314	[1]	107,830	[1]	'	'
* Including unconsolidated investments	'		$980		'		$980		'	'
[1]	Including unconsolidated investments

Note_9_Business_Segments_Detai2

Note 9 - Business Segments (Details) - Reconciling Information Between Reportable Segments and Consolidated Totals (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Reconciling Information Between Reportable Segments and Consolidated Totals [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Operating income	$29,797	$12,065	$75,343	$61,047
Interest income	742	280	870	1,004
Interest expense, net	-18,459	-15,400	-51,826	-44,541
Foreign currency translation and transaction gains (losses)	1,258	615	3,844	-1,127
Income attributable to sale of tax benefits	5,027	2,311	14,342	7,417
Other non-operating income, net	137	215	1,583	344
Total income, before income taxes, discontinued operations and equity in losses of investees	$18,502	$86	$44,156	$24,144

Note_10_Commitments_and_Contin1

Note 10 - Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (Specified Threshold [Member])	Jan. 04, 2012
North Brawley Project [Member]	'
Note 10 - Commitments and Contingencies (Details) [Line Items]	'
Expected Generating Capacity	50
East Brawley Project [Member]	'
Note 10 - Commitments and Contingencies (Details) [Line Items]	'
Expected Generating Capacity	50

Note_11_Income_Taxes_Details

Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent	28.10%	1265.10%	34.00%	42.00%	'
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent	35.00%	'	'	'	'
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Tax Exempt Income, Amount (in Dollars)	$495,000	$853,000	$1,890,000	$3,429,000	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Investments (in Dollars)	'	'	'	'	2,000,000
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Credit Carryforwards, General Business (in Dollars)	'	'	'	'	69,000,000
Effective Income Tax Amended Rate Start Date	'	'	11-Nov-13	'	'
Period In Which Investments Expected To Be Made To Benefit From New Tax Law	'	'	'5 years	'	'
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards (in Dollars)	'	'	'	'	267,600,000
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards (in Dollars)	'	'	'	'	$193,400,000
Israel [Member] | Investment One [Member] | Ormat Systems Ltd Member	'	'	'	'	'
Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Period For Tax Exemption	'	'	'2 years	'	'
Income Tax Incentive Period	'5 years	'	'5 years	'	'
Israel [Member] | Investment One [Member] | Ormat Systems Ltd Member | Maximum [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Effective Income Tax Rate	'	'	25.00%	'	'
Israel [Member] | Investment Two [Member] | Ormat Systems Ltd Member	'	'	'	'	'
Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Period For Tax Exemption	'	'	'2 years	'	'
Income Tax Incentive Period	'5 years	'	'5 years	'	'
Israel [Member] | Investment Two [Member] | Ormat Systems Ltd Member | Maximum [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Effective Income Tax Rate	'	'	25.00%	'	'
Israel [Member] | Ormat Systems Ltd Member	'	'	'	'	'
Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Effective Income Tax Rate Year One and Year Two	'	'	15.00%	'	'
Effective Income Tax Rate Year Three and Year Four	'	'	12.50%	'	'
Effective Income Tax Rate Year Five and Thereafter	'	'	12.00%	'	'
Investment Tax Credit Carryforward [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Tax Credit Carryforward Expiration Period	'	'	'	'	'20 years
General Business Tax Credit Carryforward [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Tax Credit Carryforward Expiration Period	'	'	'	'	'20 years

Note_11_Income_Taxes_Details_R

Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details) - Reconciliation of Beginning and Ending Amounts of Unrecognized Tax Benefits (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Reconciliation of Beginning and Ending Amounts of Unrecognized Tax Benefits [Abstract]	'	'
Balance	$7,280	$5,875
Additions based on tax positions taken in prior years	901	1,264
Additions based on tax positions taken in current year	697	'
Balance	$8,878	$7,139

Note_12_ORTP_Tax_Monetization_1

Note 12 - ORTP Tax Monetization Transaction (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Jan. 24, 2013	Jan. 24, 2013	Jan. 24, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
					Common Class A [Member]	Common Class B [Member]	Ormat Nevada Ortp LLC [Member]	Ormat Nevada Ortp LLC [Member]	Ormat Nevada Ortp LLC [Member]
					Ormat Nevada Ortp LLC [Member]	Ormat Nevada Ortp LLC [Member]
Note 12 - ORTP Tax Monetization Transaction (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Proceeds from Sales of Business, Affiliate and Productive Assets	'	'	'	'	'	'	$35,700,000	'	'
Additional Proceeds as Percentage of Production Tax Credit	'	'	'	'	'	'	25.00%	'	'
Final Additional Payments Expected Date	'	'	'	'	'	'	31-Dec-16	'	'
Expected Future Payments	'	'	'	'	'	'	8,700,000	'	'
Percentage of Distributable Cash After Flip Date	'	'	'	'	'	'	97.50%	'	'
Percentage of Taxable Income After Flip Date	'	'	'	'	'	'	95.00%	'	'
Percentage Allocation Of Income and Loss	'	'	'	'	'	'	5.00%	'	'
Percentage Allocation of Cash	'	'	'	'	'	'	2.50%	'	'
Common Stock Voting Rights Percentage	'	'	'	'	75.00%	25.00%	'	'	'
Equity Method Investment, Realized Gain (Loss) on Disposal	5,027,000	2,311,000	14,342,000	7,417,000	'	'	'	2,000,000	6,100,000
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee, Noncontrolling Interest in Income of Subsidiary	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	3,900,000	10,300,000
Financial Charges Interest Expense	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$1,900,000	$4,200,000

Note_13_Discontinued_Operation2

Note 13 - Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	30-May-13	Sep. 30, 2013
					Momotombo Power Plant [Member]	Momotombo Power Plant [Member]
Note 13 - Discontinued Operations (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses	'	'	'	'	$7,751,000	'
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	$0	$0	$3,646,000	$0	'	$3,600,000

Note_13_Discontinued_Operation3

Note 13 - Discontinued Operations (Details) - Summary of Financial Information Related to Discontinued Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues - electricity	$88,994	$77,612	$245,005	$238,837
Cost of revenues - electricity:	90,993	102,054	285,420	281,360
Gross margin	39,756	30,243	116,914	107,093
Selling and marketing expenses	2,575	3,346	17,861	12,752
General and administrative expenses	6,546	6,132	20,264	20,163
Operating income	29,797	12,065	75,343	61,047
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	'	2,123	5,311	4,875
Momotombo Power Plant [Member]	'	'	'	'
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Revenues - electricity	'	3,840	4,866	9,873
Cost of revenues - electricity:	'	1,542	2,869	4,565
Gross margin	'	2,298	1,997	5,308
Selling and marketing expenses	'	99	192	281
General and administrative expenses	'	76	140	152
Operating income	'	2,123	1,665	4,875
Income from discontinued operations before income taxes	'	2,123	5,311	4,875
Income tax provision	'	-391	-614	-1,097
Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes	'	$1,732	$4,697	$3,778

Note_13_Discontinued_Operation4

Note 13 - Discontinued Operations (Details) - Net Assets of Momotombo Power Plant (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	30-May-13
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			Momotombo Power Plant [Member]
Note 13 - Discontinued Operations (Details) - Net Assets of Momotombo Power Plant [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$35,435	$66,628	$52
Accounts receivable	'	'	2,274
Prepaid expenses and other	36,724	34,144	167
Property, plant and equipment	'	'	3,935
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	-83,751	-98,001	-493
Deferred income taxes	'	'	-442
Accrued severance pay	'	'	-313
Other liabilities	'	'	-590
Net assets	$71,681	$60,955	$4,590

Note_14_Cash_Dividend_Details

Note 14 - Cash Dividend (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 06, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'
Dividends, Common Stock (in Dollars)	$1.80	'	'	'	'
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared (in Dollars per share)	$0.04	$0.04	$0.04	$0.08	$0.08

Note_15_Subsequent_Events_Deta

Note 15 - Subsequent Events (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 06, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Nov. 05, 2013	Oct. 16, 2013
						Subsequent Event [Member]	Subsequent Event [Member]
							MMBTU
							bbl
Note 15 - Subsequent Events (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Energy Measure (in Millions of British Thermal Units)	'	'	'	'	'	'	4,200,000
Underlying, Derivative Energy Measure (in Dollars per Million British Thermal Units)	'	'	'	'	'	'	4.103
Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Volume	'	'	'	'	'	'	275,000
Underlying, Derivative Volume (in Dollars per Barrel (of Oil))	'	'	'	'	'	'	125.15
Dividends, Common Stock (in Dollars)	$1.80	'	'	'	'	$1.80	'
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared (in Dollars per share)	$0.04	$0.04	$0.04	$0.08	$0.08	$0.04	'