Ormat (ORA) 10-Q 6 Nov 14 2014 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_And_Entity_Informatio

Document And Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Nov. 06, 2014
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	'	45,530,627
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001296445	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'
Entity Filer Category	'Accelerated Filer	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-14	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Current assets:	'		'
Cash and cash equivalents	$42,451,000		$57,354,000
Restricted cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities (all related to variable interest entities ("VIEs"))	127,452,000		51,065,000
Receivables:	'		'
Trade	75,224,000		95,365,000
Related entity	506,000		442,000
Other	9,165,000		11,049,000
Due from Parent	970,000		382,000
Inventories	17,337,000		22,289,000
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts	14,784,000		21,217,000
Deferred income taxes	2,613,000		523,000
Prepaid expenses and other	36,879,000		29,654,000
Total current assets	327,381,000		289,340,000
Unconsolidated investments	1,339,000	[1]	7,076,000
Deposits and other	21,679,000		22,114,000
Deferred income taxes	'		891,000
Deferred charges	35,399,000		36,738,000
Property, plant and equipment, net ($1,378,484 and $1,381,083 related to VIEs, respectively)	1,459,316,000		1,452,336,000
Construction-in-process ($143,548 and $136,947 related to VIEs, respectively)	268,349,000		288,827,000
Deferred financing and lease costs, net	28,969,000		30,178,000
Intangible assets, net	29,481,000		31,933,000
Total assets	2,171,913,000	[1]	2,159,433,000
Current liabilities:	'		'
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	78,411,000		98,047,000
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts	45,310,000		7,903,000
Limited and non-recourse (all related to VIEs):	'		'
Senior secured notes	31,211,000		31,137,000
Other loans	17,995,000		20,377,000
Full recourse	24,116,000		28,875,000
Total current liabilities	197,043,000		186,339,000
Limited and non-recourse (all related to VIEs):	'		'
Senior secured notes	379,036,000		270,310,000
Other loans	269,123,000		311,078,000
Full recourse:	'		'
Senior unsecured bonds (plus unamortized premium based upon 7% of $898)	250,366,000		250,596,000
Other loans	40,298,000		53,467,000
Revolving credit lines with banks	28,100,000		112,017,000
Liability associated with sale of tax benefits	44,757,000		60,985,000
Deferred lease income	61,294,000		63,496,000
Deferred income taxes	67,328,000		55,035,000
Liability for unrecognized tax benefits	5,606,000		4,950,000
Liabilities for severance pay	21,984,000		23,841,000
Asset retirement obligation	19,801,000		18,679,000
Other long-term liabilities	3,633,000		3,529,000
Total liabilities	1,388,369,000		1,414,322,000
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)	'		'
The Company's stockholders' equity:	'		'
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 45,530,627 and 45,460,653 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	46,000		46,000
Additional paid-in capital	740,651,000		735,295,000
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	36,835,000		-3,088,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	-5,710,000		487,000
	771,822,000		732,740,000
Noncontrolling interest	11,722,000		12,371,000
Total equity	783,544,000		745,111,000
Total liabilities and equity	2,171,913,000		2,159,433,000
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]	'		'
Receivables:	'		'
Property, plant and equipment, net ($1,378,484 and $1,381,083 related to VIEs, respectively)	1,378,484,000		1,381,083,000
Construction-in-process ($143,548 and $136,947 related to VIEs, respectively)	$143,548,000		$136,947,000
[1]	Including unconsolidated investments

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance1

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parentheticals) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Property, plant and equipment, net (related to VIEs)	$1,459,316	$1,452,336
Construction-in-process (related to VIEs)	268,349	288,827
Senior unsecured bonds %	7.00%	7.00%
Senior unsecured bonds unamortized premium	898	898
Common stock, par value	$0.00	$0.00
Common stock, shares authorized	200,000,000	200,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	45,530,627	45,460,653
Common stock, shares outstanding	45,530,627	45,460,653
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, net (related to VIEs)	1,378,484	1,381,083
Construction-in-process (related to VIEs)	$143,548	$136,947

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, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Revenues:	'	'	'	'
Electricity	$102,506,000	$88,994,000	$289,015,000	$245,005,000
Product	37,736,000	41,755,000	121,266,000	157,329,000
Total revenues	140,242,000	130,749,000	410,281,000	402,334,000
Cost of revenues:	'	'	'	'
Electricity	61,727,000	61,356,000	186,083,000	175,085,000
Product	23,040,000	29,637,000	75,307,000	110,335,000
Total cost of revenues	84,767,000	90,993,000	261,390,000	285,420,000
Gross margin	55,475,000	39,756,000	148,891,000	116,914,000
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'
Research and development expenses	250,000	838,000	395,000	3,446,000
Selling and marketing expenses	4,258,000	2,575,000	10,853,000	17,861,000
General and administrative expenses	7,179,000	6,546,000	20,847,000	20,264,000
Write-off of unsuccessful exploration activities	8,100,000	'	8,107,000	'
Operating income	43,788,000	29,797,000	108,689,000	75,343,000
Other income (expense):	'	'	'	'
Interest income	35,000	742,000	236,000	870,000
Interest expense, net	-22,494,000	-18,459,000	-65,084,000	-51,826,000
Foreign currency translation and transaction gains (losses)	-2,946,000	1,258,000	-3,639,000	3,844,000
Income attributable to sale of tax benefits	5,487,000	5,027,000	18,334,000	14,342,000
Gain from sale of property, plant and equipment	'	'	7,628,000	'
Other non-operating income, net	243,000	137,000	649,000	1,583,000
Income before income taxes and equity in losses of investees	24,113,000	18,502,000	66,813,000	44,156,000
Income tax provision	-6,444,000	-5,201,000	-17,731,000	-15,028,000
Equity in losses of investees	-899,000	-158,000	-1,210,000	-149,000
Income from continuing operations	16,770,000	13,143,000	47,872,000	28,979,000
Discontinued operations:	'	'	'	'
Income from discontinued operations (including gain on disposal of $0, $0, $0 and $3,646, respectively)	'	'	'	5,311,000
Total income from discontinued operations	'	'	'	4,697,000
Net income	16,770,000	13,143,000	47,872,000	33,676,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	-256,000	-193,000	-670,000	-600,000
Net income attributable to the Company's stockholders	16,514,000	12,950,000	47,202,000	33,076,000
Comprehensive income:	'	'	'	'
Net income	16,770,000	13,143,000	47,872,000	33,676,000
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of related taxes:	'	'	'	'
Change in unrealized gains or losses in respect of the Company's share in derivative instruments of unconsolidated investment	-1,069,000	'	-5,157,000	'
Loss in respect of derivative instruments designated for cash flow hedge	-933,000	'	-933,000	'
Amortization of unrealized gains or losses in respect of derivative instruments designated for cash flow hedge	-35,000	-40,000	-107,000	-124,000
Comprehensive income	14,733,000	13,103,000	41,675,000	33,552,000
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	-256,000	-193,000	-670,000	-600,000
Comprehensive income attributable to the Company's stockholders	14,477,000	12,910,000	41,005,000	32,952,000
Basic:	'	'	'	'
Income from continuing operations (in Dollars per share)	$0.37	$0.29	$1.04	$0.62
Discontinued operations (in Dollars per share)	'	'	'	$0.10
Net income (in Dollars per share)	$0.37	$0.29	$1.04	$0.72
Diluted:	'	'	'	'
Income from continuing operations (in Dollars per share)	$0.36	$0.28	$1.03	$0.62
Discontinued operations (in Dollars per share)	'	'	'	$0.10
Net income (in Dollars per share)	$0.36	$0.28	$1.03	$0.72
Weighted average number of shares used in computation of earnings per share attributable to the Company's stockholders:	'	'	'	'
Basic (in Shares)	45,690	45,438	45,594	45,433
Diluted (in Shares)	46,102	45,494	45,917	45,454
Dividend per share declared (in Dollars per share)	$0.05	$0.04	$0.16	$0.04
Discontinued Operations [Member]	'	'	'	'
Other income (expense):	'	'	'	'
Income tax provision	'	'	'	($614,000)

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, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Income from discontinued operations, gain on disposal	$0	$0	$0	$3,646

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, unless otherwise specified
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
Exercise of options by employees and directors	'	437	'	'	437	'	437
Exercise of options by employees and directors (in Shares)	23	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash paid to noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'	'	-509	-509
Cash dividend declared, per share	'	'	-1,816	'	-1,816	'	-1,816
Increase in noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'	'	5,151	5,151
Net income	'	'	33,076	'	33,076	600	33,676
Other comprehensive loss, net of related taxes:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
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	'	'	'	'	'	'
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	46	735,295	-3,088	487	732,740	12,371	745,111
Balance (in Shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	45,461	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation	'	4,308	'	'	4,308	'	4,308
Exercise of options by employees and directors	'	889	'	'	889	'	889
Exercise of options by employees and directors (in Shares)	70	'	'	'	'	'	'
Cash paid to noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'	'	-589	-589
Cash dividend declared, per share	'	'	-7,279	'	-7,279	'	-7,279
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in Crump	'	159	'	'	159	-987	-828
Increase in noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'	'	257	257
Net income	'	'	47,202	'	47,202	670	47,872
Other comprehensive loss, net of related taxes:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Loss in respect of derivative instruments designated for cash flow hedge (net of related tax of $572)	'	'	'	-933	-933	'	-933
Change in unrealized gains or losses in respect of the Company's share in derivative instruments of unconsolidated investment (net of related tax of $0)	'	'	'	-5,157	-5,157	'	-5,157
Amortization of unrealized gains in respect of derivative instruments designated for cash flow hedge (net of related tax)	'	'	'	-107	-107	'	-107
Balance at Sep. 30, 2014	$46	$740,651	$36,835	($5,710)	$771,822	$11,722	$783,544
Balance (in Shares) at Sep. 30, 2014	45,531	'	'	'	'	'	'

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, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Cash dividend declared,per share (in Dollars per share)	$0.16	$0.04
Amortization of unrealized gains in respect of derivative instruments designated for cash flow hedge, related tax	$44	$52
Loss in respect of derivative instruments designated for cash flow hedge, related tax	572	'
Change in unrealized gains or losses in respect of the Company's share in derivative instruments of unconsolidated investment, related tax	$0	'

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme4

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Net income	$47,872	$33,676
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	74,836	70,911
Amortization of premium from senior unsecured bonds	-230	-231
Accretion of asset retirement obligation	1,122	1,147
Stock-based compensation	4,308	4,548
Amortization of deferred lease income	-2,014	-2,014
Income attributable to sale of tax benefits, net of interest expense	-10,130	-6,621
Equity in losses of investees	1,210	149
Mark-to-market of derivative instruments	-4,467	3,487
Write-off of unsuccessful exploration activities	8,107	'
Loss (gain) on severance pay fund asset	798	-399
Gain on sale of a subsidiary and property, plant and equipment	-7,628	-3,646
Deferred income tax provision	13,071	14,235
Liability for unrecognized tax benefits	656	1,598
Deferred lease revenues	-188	-167
Other	-181	-819
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of amounts acquired:	'	'
Receivables	21,624	-23,181
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts	6,433	-26,588
Inventories	4,952	273
Prepaid expenses and other	-5,163	-6,175
Deposits and other	279	4,296
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	-10,868	-21,449
Due from/to related entities, net	-64	-69
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts	37,407	-12,700
Liabilities for severance pay	-1,857	1,068
Other long-term liabilities	-527	959
Due from/to Parent	-588	-62
Net cash provided by operating activities	178,770	32,226
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Short-term deposit	'	3,010
Net change in restricted cash and cash equivalents	-76,387	-7,660
Cash received from sale of a subsidiary and property, plant and equipment	35,250	7,699
Capital expenditures	-122,587	-144,637
Cash grant received from the U.S. Treasury under Section 1603 of the ARRA	27,427	14,685
Investment in unconsolidated companies	-631	-2,467
Increase in severance pay fund asset, net of payments made to retired employees	1,493	1,172
Net cash used in investing activities	-135,435	-128,198
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Proceeds from long-term loans	140,000	45,000
Proceeds from exercise of options by employees	741	437
Proceeds from the sale of limited liability company interest in ORTP, LLC, net of transaction costs	'	31,376
Payment for acquisition of noncontrolling interest in Crump	-1,490	'
Purchase of OFC Senior Secured Notes	-12,860	-11,888
Proceeds from revolving credit lines with banks	2,400,683	2,170,287
Repayment of revolving credit lines with banks	-2,484,600	-2,120,605
Repayments of long-term debt	-80,223	-37,480
Cash paid to non-controlling interest	-9,215	-10,184
Cash paid for interest rate cap	-1,505	'
Cash received from non-controlling interest	2,234	'
Deferred debt issuance costs	-4,724	-348
Cash dividends paid	-7,279	-1,816
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	-58,238	64,779
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	-14,903	-31,193
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	57,354	66,628
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	42,451	35,435
Supplemental non-cash investing and financing activities:	'	'
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable related to purchases of property, plant and equipment	-5,221	7,744
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, 2014
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, 2014, the consolidated results of operations and comprehensive income for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 and the consolidated cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013.
	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 periods ended September 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2014.
	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, 2013. The condensed consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2013 was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013, 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.
	Other comprehensive income
	For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company reclassified $107,000 and $124,000, respectively, from other comprehensive income, of which $173,000 and $200,000, respectively, were recorded to reduce interest expense and $66,000 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, 2014 and 2013, the Company reclassified $35,000 and $40,000, respectively, from other comprehensive income, of which $57,000 and $76,000, respectively, were recorded to reduce interest expense and $22,000 and $25,000, 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.
	Solar project sale
	On March 26, 2014, the Company signed an agreement with RET Holdings, LLC to sell the Heber Solar project in Imperial County, California for $35.25 million. The Company received the first payment of $15.0 million during the first quarter of 2014 and the second payment for the remaining $20.25 million was paid in the second quarter of 2014. Due to certain contingencies in the sale agreement, the Company deferred the pre-tax gain of approximately $7.6 million until the contingencies were resolved in the second quarter of 2014.
	Write-off of unsuccessful exploration activities
	Write-off of unsuccessful activities for the nine months ended September, 30, 2014, was $8.1 million. This represents the write-off of exploration costs related to the Company’s exploration activities in the Wister site in California, which the Company determined in the second quarter of 2014 would not support commercial operations.
	Acquisition of interests in Crump Geyser and North Valley Geothermal projects
	On August 5, 2014, the Company signed a definitive Purchase and Sale Agreement with Alternative Earth Resources Inc. (“AER”), pursuant to which the Company paid $1.5 million in cash and (i) purchased AER's (a) 50% interest in Crump Geyser Company (“CGC”), which holds the rights to the Crump Geyser geothermal project, and (b) rights to the North Valley geothermal project (ii) obtained an option, exercisable over a four-year period, to purchase certain of AER's New Truckhaven geothermal lease. Prior to this transaction, CGC was consolidated by the Company as variable interest entity. As a result of the acquisition of the remaining interest, the Company continues to consolidate Crump, but now as a wholly owned indirect subsidiary, and so the carrying value of the non-controlling interest of CGC of $1.0 million was reclassified to the Company's equity and the difference of $0.2 million between the fair value of the consideration paid and the related carrying value of the nonconrolling interest acquired was recorded within “additional paid-in capital” in the condensed consolidated statement of equity.
	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, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had deposits totaling $23,016,000 and $13,805,000, respectively, in seven U.S. financial institutions that were federally insured up to $250,000 per account. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company’s deposits in foreign countries amounted to approximately $31,279,000 and $56,133,000, respectively.
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, accounts receivable related to operations in foreign countries amounted to approximately $42,914,000 and $32,231,000, respectively. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, accounts receivable from the Company’s primary customers (as described immediately below) amounted to approximately 54.1% and 35.0% of the Company’s accounts receivable, respectively.
	Sierra Pacific Power Company and Nevada Power Company (subsidiaries of NV Energy, Inc.) accounted for 14.6% and 15.3% of the Company’s total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and 16.6% and 17.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	Southern California Edison accounted for 19.8% and 20.9% of the Company’s total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and 15.2% and 14.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	Hawaii Electric Light Company accounted for 7.3% and 8.7% of the Company’s total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and 8.8% and 8.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	Kenya Power and Lighting Co. Ltd. accounted for 15.7% and 13.9% of the Company’s total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and 15.6% and 10.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, 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, 2014
New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]	'
New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Text Block]	'
	NOTE 2 — NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
	New accounting pronouncements effective in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014
	Presentation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits
	In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“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 was applied prospectively to all unrecognized tax benefits that exist on January 1, 2014. The adoption of this guidance did have a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.
	New accounting pronouncements effective in future periods
	Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures
	In April 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity. The amendment, required to be applied prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014, limits discontinued operations reporting to disposals of components of an entity that represent strategic shifts that have, or will have, a major effect on operations and financial results. The amendment requires expanded disclosures for discontinued operations and also requires additional disclosures regarding disposals of individually significant components that do not qualify as discontinued operations. Early adoption is permitted, but only for disposals (or classifications as held for sale) that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued or available for issuance. This amendment has no impact on our current disclosures, but will in the future if we dispose of any individually significant components of the Company.
	Revenues from Contracts with Customers
	In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenues from Contracts with Customers, Topic 606, which was a joint project of the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue and to develop a common revenue standard for U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. The update provides that an entity should recognize revenue in connection with the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Specifically, an entity is required to apply each of the following steps: (1) identify the contract(s) with the customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contracts; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligation in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The amendments in this update are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of the adoption of these amendments on its consolidated financial statements.

Note_3_Inventories

Note 3 - Inventories	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Inventory Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	NOTE 3 — INVENTORIES
	Inventories consist of the following:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Raw materials and purchased parts for assembly	$	10,412	$	6,326
	Self-manufactured assembly parts and finished products		6,925		15,963
	Total	$	17,337	$	22,289

Note_4_Unconsolidated_Investme

Note 4 - Unconsolidated Investments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
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,
		2014		2013
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Sarulla	$	1,339	$	7,076
	The Sarulla Project
	The Company (through a subsidiary) is a 12.75% equity stake member of a consortium (the “Sarulla 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, 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 is expected to supply its Ormat Energy Converters (“OECs”) to the power plant. The supply contract was signed on October 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.
	On May 16, 2014, the consortium reached financial closing of $1.17 billion financing agreements to finance the development of the Sarulla project with a consortium of lenders comprised of Japan Bank for International Cooperation (“JBIC”), the Asian Development Bank and six commercial banks and obtained construction and term loan under limited recourse financing package backed by political risk guarantee from JBIC.
	Of the $1.17 billion, $0.1 billion (which was drawn down by the Sarulla project company on May 23, 2014) bears a fixed interest rate and $1.07 billion bears interest at a rate linked to Libor.
	The Sarulla consortium entered into interest rate swap agreements with various international banks in order to fix the Libor interest rate on up to $0.96 billion of the $1.07 billion credit facility at a rate of 3.4565%. The interest rate swap became effective as of June 4, 2014 along with the second draw-down by the project company of $50.0 million.
	The Sarulla project company has accounted for the interest rate swap as a cash flow hedge upon which changes in the fair value of the hedging instrument, relative to the effective portion, will be recorded in other comprehensive income. As such, during the period, the project recorded a loss equal to $40.5 million, of which the Company's share was $5.2 million which was recorded in other comprehensive income
	The first phase of operations is expected to commence in 2016 and the remaining two phases of operations are scheduled to commence within 18 months thereafter. The Company will supply its Ormat Energy Converters to the power plant and has added the $254.0 million supply contract to its product segment backlog. According to the current plan, the Company started to recognize revenue from the project during the third quarter of 2014 and will continue to recognize revenues over the course of the next three to four years. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company recognized Products revenues of $13.8 million.
	During the first nine months of 2014, the Company made additional investment contributions of $0.6 million to the Sarulla project, consistent with its pro rata share in the consortium.
	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.

Note_5_Fair_Value_of_Financial

Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
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, 2014 and December 31, 2013 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.
			Carrying
			value at
			September 30,				Fair Value at September 30, 2014
			2014				Total				Level 1				Level 2				Level 3
			(Dollars in thousands)
	Assets
	Current assets:
	Cash equivalents (including restricted cash accounts)		$	116,118			$	116,118			$	116,118			$	—			$	—
	Derivatives:
	Swap transaction on oil price(1)			1,134				1,134				—				1,134				—
	Swap transaction on natural gas price(2)			502				502				—				502				—
	Liabilities:
	Current liabilities:
	Currency forward contracts(3)			(2,183	)			(2,183	)			—				(2,183	)			—
			$	115,571			$	115,571			$	116,118			$	(547	)		$	—
			Carrying
			value at
			December 31,				Fair Value at December 31, 2013
			2013				Total				Level 1				Level 2				Level 3
			(Dollars in thousands)
	Assets
	Current assets:
	Cash equivalents (including restricted cash accounts)		$	40,015			$	40,015			$	40,015			$	—			$	—
	Derivatives:
	Currency forward contracts(3)			2,290				2,290				—				2,290				—
	Liabilities
	Current liabilities:
	Derivatives:
	Swap transaction on oil price(1)			(2,490	)			(2,490	)			—				(2,490	)			—
	Swap transaction on natural gas price(2)			(341	)			(341	)			—				(341	)			—
			$	39,474			$	39,474			$	40,015			$	(541	)		$	—
	-1	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" and "accounts payable and accrued expenses" 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 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" and "accounts payable and accrued expenses" 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).
	-3	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).
	The amounts set forth in the tables above include investments in debt instruments and money market funds (which are included in cash equivalents). Those securities and deposits are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices in an active market.
	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 gain (loss)		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
	as hedging instruments				September 30,								September 30,
					2014				2013				2014				2013
					(Dollars in thousands)								(Dollars in thousands)
	Put options on oil price		Electricity revenues		$	—			$	(824	)		$	—			$	(1,256	)
	Swap transaction on oil price		Electricity revenues			1,657				—				1,885				(294	)
	Swap transaction on natural gas price		Electricity revenues			2,295				477				(609	)			81
	Currency forward contracts		Foreign currency translation and transaction gains (losses)			(2,422	)			1,970				(2,430	)			4,895
					$	1,530			$	1,623			$	(1,154	)		$	3,426
	On September 3, 2013, the Company entered into an NGI swap contract with a bank for notional quantity of approximately 4.4 million MMbtu 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 terms of this contract, the Company makes floating rate payments to the bank and receives 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) is being settled on a cash basis.
	On October 16, 2013, the Company entered into an NGI swap contract with a bank for notional quantity of approximately 4.2 million MMbtu 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 terms of this contract, the Company makes floating rate payments to the bank and receives 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) is being settled on a cash basis.
	On October 16, 2013, the Company entered into a New York Harbor ULSD swap contract with a bank for notional quantity of 275,000 BBL 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.
	On March 6, 2014, the Company entered into an NGI swap contract with a bank for notional quantity of approximately 2.2 million MMbtu for settlement effective January 1, 2015 until March 31, 2015, in order to reduce its exposure to NGI below $4.95 per MMbtu under its PPAs with Southern California Edison. The contract did not have any up-front costs. Under the terms 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 $4.95 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, 2015 to March 1, 2015) will be settled on a cash basis.
	The foregoing swap transactions have not been designated as hedge transactions and are marked to market with the corresponding gains or losses recognized within “Electricity revenues” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company recognized a net gain and a net loss from these transactions of $1.3 million and $1.5 million, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company recognized a net gain and a net loss from these transactions of $4.0 million and $0.3 million, respectively.
	There were no transfers of assets or liabilities between Level 1 and Level 2 during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.
	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,
			2014				2013				2014				2013
			(Dollars in millions)								(Dollars in millions)
Olkaria III loan - DEG		$	36.6			$	40.3			$	35.5			$	39.5
Olkaria III loan - OPIC			276.8				279.6				287.1				299.9
Amatitlan loan			—				34.8				—				31.5
Senior secured notes:
Ormat Funding LLC ("OFC")			78				83.5				72.5				90.8
OrCal Geothermal LLC ("OrCal")			64.3				65.8				63.2				66.2
OFC 2 LLC ("OFC 2")			233.9				119				274.5				144.4
Senior unsecured bonds			264.9				270.6				250.4				250.6
Loans from institutional investors			14.2				20.1				13.9				19.5
The fair value as of December 31, 2013, of OFC senior secured notes was determined using observable market prices as these securities are traded. The fair value as of September 30, 2014 of the 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 fair value of revolving lines of credit is determined using a comparison of market-based price sources that are reflective of similar credit ratings to those of the Company.
On June 20, 2014, Phase I of Tuscarora facility achieved project completion under the OFC 2 Note Purchase Agreement. In accordance with the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement, the Company recalibrated the original financing assumptions and as a result the loan amount was adjusted through a principal prepayment of approximately $4.3 million.
On August 29, 2014, OFC 2, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of the Company signed a $140.0 million loan under the OFC 2 senior secured notes to finance the construction of the McGinness Hills Phase 2 project in Nevada. This drawdown is the last tranche available under the OFC 2 Note Purchase Agreement with John Hancock Life Insurance Company and guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office. The $140.0 million loan, which matures in December 2032, carries a 4.61% coupon with principal to be repaid on a quarterly basis. The OFC 2 Notes, which include loans for the Tuscarora, Jersey Valley and McGinness Hills complexes, are rated "BBB" by Standard & Poor's.
In connection with the anticipated drawdown, on August 13, 2014, the Company entered into an on-the-run interest rate lock agreement with a financial institution with a termination date of August 15, 2014. This on-the-run interest rate lock agreement had a notional amount of $140.0 million and was designated by the Company to be a cash flow hedge. The objective of this cash flow hedge was to eliminate the variability in the changes in the 10-year U.S. Treasury rate as that is one of the components in the annual interest rate of the OFC 2 loan that was forecasted to be fixed on August 15, 2014. As such, the Company hedged the variability in total proceeds attributable to changes in the 10-year U.S. Treasury rate for the forecasted issuance of fixed rate OFC 2 loan. On August 18, 2014, which was the settlement date, the Company paid $1.5 million to the counterparty of the on-the-run interest rate lock agreement.
The Company concluded that the cash flow hedge was fully effective with no ineffective portion and no amounts excluded from the effectiveness testing, thus the total loss from the cash flow hedge was fully recognized in “Loss in respect of derivatives instruments designated for cash flow hedge” under other comprehensive income of $0.9 million noted above, which was net of related taxes of $0.6 million. The cash flow hedge loss recorded will be amortized over the life of the OFC 2 loan using the effective interest method. The Company expects to reclassify $0.2 of the loss from “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” into interest expense during the next twelve months.
On September 30, 2014, Ortitlan, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of the Company, prepaid the outstanding amount of approximately $30.0 million loan with EIG Global Project Fund II, Ltd. (formerly TCW). The $42.0 million loan was signed in 2009 to refinance the Company's investment in the 20 MW Amatitlan geothermal power plant located in Guatemala. This repayment resulted in a one-time charge to interest expense of approximately $1.1 million, consisting of (i) prepayment premium of $0.6 million, and (ii) write-off of related deferred financing costs amounting to a $0.5 million.
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, 2014:
		Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
		(Dollars in millions)
Olkaria III loan - DEG		$	—			$	—			$	36.6			$	36.6
Olkaria III loan - OPIC			—				—				276.8				276.8
Senior secured notes:
OFC			—				—				78				78
OrCal			—				—				64.3				64.3
OFC 2			—				—				233.9				233.9
Senior unsecured bonds			—				—				264.9				264.9
Loan from institutional investors			—				—				14.2				14.2
Other long-term debt			—				15				—				15
Revolving lines of credit			—				28.1				—				28.1
Deposits			21.7				—				—				21.7
The following table presents the fair value of financial instruments as of December 31, 2013:
		Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
		(Dollars in millions)
Olkaria III loan - DEG		$	—			$	—			$	40.3			$	40.3
Olkaria III loan - OPIC			—				—				279.6				279.6
Amatitlan loan			—				—				34.8				34.8
Senior secured notes:
OFC			—				83.5				—				83.5
OrCal			—				—				65.8				65.8
OFC 2			—				—				119				119
Senior unsecured bonds			—				—				270.6				270.6
Loan from institutional investors			—				—				20.1				20.1
Other long-term debt			—				23.3				—				23.3
Revolving lines of credit			—				112				—				112
Deposits			21.3				—				—				21.3

Note_6_StockBased_Compensation

Note 6 - Stock-Based Compensation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
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 stock-based awards 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 (as amended the “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 exercisable one year after the grant date. The term of stock-based awards typically ranges from six 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 2012 Incentive Plan was amended during the first half of 2014. The key amendments are as follows:
	Increase of per grant limit: Section 15(a) of the 2012 Incentive Plan was amended to allow the grant of up to 400,000 shares of the Company’s common stock with respect to the initial grant of an equity award to newly hired executive officers in any calendar year; and
	Acceleration of vesting: Section 15(l) of the 2012 Incentive Plan was amended to clarify the Company’s ability to provide in the applicable award agreement that part and/or all of the award will be accelerated upon the occurrence of certain predetermined events and/or conditions, such as a ”change in control“ (as defined in the 2012 Incentive Plan).
	On February 11, 2014, the Company granted its Chief Financial Officer options to purchase 32,500 shares of common stock under the 2012 Incentive Plan. The exercise price of each option is $24.57, which represented the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. Such options will expire five years from the date of grant and will vest in equal annual installments over a period of three years from the grant date, subject to acceleration upon a change of control.
	The fair value of each stock option on the grant date was $5.78. The Company calculated the fair value of each stock option on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes valuation model based on the following assumptions:
	Risk-free interest rates		0.81	%
	Expected life (in years)		3.375
	Dividend yield		0.8	%
	Expected volatility		33.5	%
	Forfeiture rate		0	%
	On April 2, 2014, the Company granted its newly appointed Chief Executive Officer options to purchase up to an aggregate of 400,000 shares of common stock under the 2012 Incentive Plan. The exercise price of each option is $29.52 per share, which represented the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant. Options to purchase 300,000 shares of common stock will expire six years following the date of grant and will vest in equal annual installments over four years from the grant date, subject to acceleration in the event of a change of control. The remaining options to purchase 100,000 shares of common stock will vest on March 31, 2021, subject to acceleration associated with a change of control, and will expire seven and a half years from the date of grant.
	The fair value of each option on the grant date was $8.33 for grant of options to purchase 300,000 shares of common stock, and $12.88 for the grant of options to purchase 100,000 shares of common stock. The Company calculated the fair value of each stock option on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes valuation model based on the following assumptions:
		Grant of options to			Grant of options to
		purchase 300,000			purchase 100,000
		shares of common			shares of common
		stock			stock
	Risk-free interest rates		2.36	%		1.64	%
	Expected life (in years)		7.25			4.75
	Dividend yield		0.9	%		0.9	%
	Expected volatility		42.8	%		33.1	%

Note_7_Interest_Expense_Net

Note 7 - Interest Expense, Net	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
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,
		2014			2013			2014			2013
		(Dollars in thousands)						(Dollars in thousands)
	Interest related to sale of tax benefits	$	3,430		$	3,479		$	9,678		$	9,233
	Other interest expense		19,910			16,811			57,139			48,820
	Less — amount capitalized		(846	)		(1,831	)		(1,733	)		(6,227	)
		$	22,494		$	18,459		$	65,084		$	51,826

Note_8_Earnings_Per_Share

Note 8 - Earnings Per Share	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Earnings Per Share [Text Block]	'
	NOTE 8 — EARNINGS PER SHARE
	Basic earnings per share attributable to the Company’s stockholders (“earnings per share”) 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 September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014		2013		2014		2013
		(In thousands)				(In thousands)
	Weighted average number of shares used in computation of basic earnings per share		45,690		45,438		45,594		45,433
	Add:
	Additional shares from the assumed exercise of employee stock-based awards		412		56		323		21
	Weighted average number of shares used in computation of diluted earnings per share		46,102		45,494		45,917		45,454
	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 3,344,331 and 4,999,298 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and 3,257,456 and 5,312,238 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Note_9_Business_Segments

Note 9 - Business Segments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
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 tables:
		Electricity			Product			Consolidated
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Three Months Ended September 30, 2014:
	Net revenues from external customers	$	102,506		$	37,736		$	140,242
	Intersegment revenues		—			7,244			7,244
	Operating income		32,411			11,377			43,788
	Segment assets at period end *		2,083,715			88,198			2,171,913
	* Including unconsolidated investments		1,339			—			1,339
	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
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014:
	Net revenues from external customers	$	289,015		$	121,266		$	410,281
	Intersegment revenues		—			43,580			43,580
	Operating income		72,850			35,839			108,689
	Segment assets at period end *		2,083,715			88,198			2,171,913
	* Including unconsolidated investments		1,339			—			1,339
	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
	Reconciling information between reportable segments and the Company’s consolidated totals is shown in the following table:
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013
		(Dollars in thousands)						(Dollars in thousands)
	Operating income	$	43,788		$	29,797		$	108,689		$	75,343
	Interest income		35			742			236			870
	Interest expense, net		(22,494	)		(18,459	)		(65,084	)		(51,826	)
	Foreign currency translation and transaction gains (losses)		(2,946	)		1,258			(3,639	)		3,844
	Income attributable to sale of tax benefits		5,487			5,027			18,334			14,342
	Gain from sale of property, plant and equipment		—			—			7,628			—
	Other non-operating income, net		243			137			649			1,583
	Total income, before income taxes, discontinued operations and equity in income (losses) of investees	$	24,113		$	18,502		$	66,813		$	44,156

Note_10_Commitments_and_Contin

Note 10 - Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	NOTE 10 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
	In December 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, California 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 enhancement. The Company has successfully defended itself against the petition, which has been denied by the court.
	On July 8, 2014, Global Community Monitor, LiUNA, and two residents of Bishop, California filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, alleging that Mammoth Pacific, L.P., Ormat Technologies, Inc. and Ormat Nevada, Inc. are operating three geothermal generating plants in Mammoth Lakes, California (MP-1; MP-II and PLES-I) in violation of the federal Clean Air Act (“CAA”) and Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District (“District”) rules. The Company is continuing to review the complaint and believes that it is without merit, and intends to vigorously defend itself against the allegations set forth in the complaint and to take all necessary legal action to have the complaint dismissed. Filing of the complaint in and of itself does not have any immediate adverse implications for the Mammoth plants.
	In January 2014, the Company learned that two former employees alleged in a “qui tam” complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California that the Company submitted fraudulent applications and certifications to obtain grants. The United States Department of Justice has declined to intervene. The former employees have proceeded on their own and served the Company with their initial complaint in April 2014, and then filed an amended complaint in May 2014. The Company is investigating, and is defending against the amended complaint. This includes that, pursuant to the Company’s motion to move the venue of the proceeding, the file was reassigned from the United States District Court for the Southern District of California to the District of Nevada. In addition, the Company has filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint, in response to which the complainants have filed responses, and the United States has filed a statement of interest regarding the Company's claim that the False Claims Act’s “Tax Bar” excludes such Act’s application to the Company, and urged the court to reject the Company's argument, while continuing to take no position as to the overall sufficiency of the complainants' complaint. The motion to dismiss is pending before the Nevada United States District Court. The Company continues to believe that the allegations of the lawsuit have no merit, and it will continue to defend itself vigorously.
	In addition, 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, 2014
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, 2014 and 2013 was 26.7% and 28.1%, respectively. The Company’s effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was 26.5% and 34.0%, respectively. The effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate of 35% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 primarily due to: (i) a full valuation allowance against the Company’s U.S. deferred tax assets in respect of net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards and unutilized tax credits (see below); (ii) lower tax rates in Israel; and (iii) 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 three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, was $895,000 and $495,000, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, was $2,921,000 and $1,890,000.
	At December 31, 2013, the Company had U.S. federal NOL carryforwards of approximately $235.4 million and state NOL carryforwards of approximately $218.1 million available to reduce future taxable income, which expire between 2021 and 2032 for federal NOLs and between 2014 and 2032 for state NOLs. Investment tax credits in the amount of $0.7 million at December 31, 2013 are available for a 20-year period and expire between 2022 and 2024. Production tax credits in the amount of $71.3 million at December 31, 2013 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, 2013 and September 30, 2014, as at these 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 condensed 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 did 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 16% in 2014 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.
	A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014		2013
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Balance at beginning of period	$	4,950	$	7,280
	Additions based on tax positions taken in prior years		93		901
	Additions based on tax positions taken in current year		563		697
	Balance at end of period	$	5,606	$	8,878

Note_12_Tax_Monetization_Trans

Note 12 - Tax Monetization Transaction	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Disclosure Of Investments In And Advances To Affiliates [Abstract]	'
Disclosure Of Investments In And Advances To Affiliates [Text Block]	'
	NOTE 12 —TAX MONETIZATION TRANSACTIONS
	OPC Transaction
	In June 2007, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary Ormat Nevada Inc. (“Ormat Nevada”) entered into agreements with affiliates of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Lehman Brothers Inc. (Morgan Stanley Geothermal LLC and Lehman-OPC LLC), under which those investors purchased, for cash, interests in a newly formed subsidiary of Ormat Nevada, OPC LLC (“OPC”), entitling the investors to certain tax benefits (such as PTCs and accelerated depreciation) and distributable cash associated with four geothermal power plants.
	The first closing under the agreements occurred in 2007 and covered the Company’s Desert Peak 2, Steamboat Hills, and Galena 2 power plants. The investors paid $71.8 million at the first closing. The second closing under the agreements occurred in 2008 and covered the Galena 3 power plant. The investors paid $63.0 million at the second closing.
	Ormat Nevada continues to operate and maintain the power plants. Under the agreements, Ormat Nevada initially received all of the distributable cash flow generated by the power plants, while the investors received substantially all of the production tax credits and taxable income or loss (together, the “Economic Benefits”). Once Ormat Nevada recovered the capital that it has invested in the power plants, which occurred in the fourth quarter of 2010, the investors began receiving both the distributable cash flow and the Economic Benefits. The investors’ return is limited by the term of the transaction. Once the investors reach a target after-tax yield on their investment in OPC (the “OPC Flip Date”), Ormat Nevada will receive 95% of both distributable cash and taxable income, on a going forward basis. Following the OPC Flip Date, Ormat Nevada also has the option to buy out the investors’ remaining interest in OPC at the then current fair market value or, if greater, the investors’ capital account balances in OPC. Should Ormat Nevada exercise this purchase option, it would thereupon revert to being sole owner of the power plants.
	The Class B membership units are provided with a 5% residual economic interest in OPC. The 5% residual interest commences on achievement by the investors of a contractually stipulated return that triggers the OPC Flip Date, as described above. The actual OPC Flip Date is not known with certainty and is determined by the operating results of OPC. This residual 5% interest represents a noncontrolling interest and is not subject to mandatory redemption or guaranteed payments. Cash is distributed each period in accordance with the cash allocation percentages stipulated in the agreements. Until the fourth quarter of 2010, Ormat Nevada was allocated the cash earnings in OPC and therefore, the amount allocated to the 5% residual interest represented the noncash loss of OPC which principally represented depreciation on the property, plant and equipment. Beginning from the fourth quarter of 2010, the distributable cash is allocated to the Class B membership units. As a result of the acquisition by Ormat Nevada, on October 30, 2009, of all of the Class B membership units of OPC held by Lehman-OPC LLC (see below), the residual interest decreased to 3.5%. Such residual interest increased again to 5% on February 3, 2011 when Ormat Nevada sold its Class B membership units to JPM Capital Corporation (“JPM”) (see below).
	The Company’s voting rights in OPC 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 OPC. The investors own all of the Class B membership units, which represent 25% of the voting rights in OPC. In the period from October 30, 2009 to February 3, 2011, the Company owned, through Ormat Nevada, all of the Class A membership units, which represented 75% of the voting rights in OPC, and 30% of the Class B membership units, which represented 7.5% of the voting rights of OPC. In total the Company owned 82.5% of the voting rights in OPC as of December 31, 2010. In that period, the investors owned 70% of the Class B membership units, which represented 17.5% of the voting rights of OPC. Other than in respect of customary protective rights, all operational decisions in OPC are decided by the vote of a majority of the membership units. Following the OPC Flip Date, Ormat Nevada’s voting rights will increase to 95% and the investor’s voting rights will decrease to 5%. Ormat Nevada retains the controlling voting interest in OPC both before and after the OPC Flip Date and therefore consolidates OPC.
	On October 30, 2009, Ormat Nevada acquired from Lehman-OPC LLC all of the Class B membership units of OPC held by Lehman-OPC pursuant to a right of first offer for a price of $18.5 million. A substantial portion of the initial sale of the Class B membership units by Ormat Nevada was accounted for as a financing transaction. As a result, the repurchase of these interests at a discount resulted in a pre-tax gain of $13.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2009. In addition, an amount of approximately $1.1 million has been reclassified from noncontrolling interest to additional paid in capital representing the 1.5% residual interest of Lehman-OPC’s Class B membership units.
	On February 3, 2011, Ormat Nevada sold to JPM all of the Class B membership units of OPC that it had acquired on October 30, 2010 for a total sale price of $24.9 million in cash. The Company did not record any gain from the sale of its Class B membership interests in OPC to JPM. A substantial portion of the Class B membership units are accounted for as a financing transaction. As a result, the majority of these proceeds were recorded as a liability. In addition, $2.3 million has been reclassified from additional paid in capital to noncontrolling interest representing the 1.5% residual interest of JPM’s Class B membership units.
	ORTP Transaction
	In January 2013, Ormat Nevada entered into agreements with 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 Ormat Nevada 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 up to a maximum amount of $11.0 million of which we received $2.2 million in the first quarter of 2014.
	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.

Note_13_Discontinued_Operation

Note 13 - Discontinued Operations	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
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 for all comparative periods presented.
	The summarized financial information related to the discontinued operations is as follows:
		Nine Months Ended
		September 30,
		2013
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Revenues - electricity	$	4,866
	Cost of revenues - electricity		(2,869	)
	Gross margin		1,997
	Operating expenses:
	Selling and marketing expenses:		(192	)
	General and administrative expenses:		(140	)
	Operating income:		1,665
	Income from discontinued operations before income taxes		5,311
	Income tax provision		(614	)
	Total income from discontinued operations	$	4,697
	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_Subsequent_Events

Note 14 - Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Subsequent Events [Abstract]	'
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	'
	NOTE 14 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
	Cash dividend
	On November 5, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors declared, approved and authorized payment of a quarterly dividend of $2.3 million ($0.05 per share) to all holders of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock on November 20, 2014, payable on December 4, 2014.
	Potential restructuring with parent company
	On October 29, 2014, following a report to that effect issued to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and the Israeli Security Authority by its parent entity, Ormat Industries, Ltd. (“OIL”), the Company announced that the two companies are considering a possible group corporate reorganization. Pursuant to the proposed transaction, the Company would acquire OIL by issuing shares of common stock in the Company to OIL's shareholders in exchange for all of the OIL shareholders' shares in OIL, based upon an exchange ratio to be agreed upon between the parties. If approved and consummated, the transaction would eliminate OIL’s majority ownership interest in, and control of, Ormat Technologies, and OIL would become an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Ormat Technologies.
	The Company has established a special committee of independent directors with full authority to consider the proposed transaction, including to negotiate the exchange ratio and make a recommendation to the Board of Directors, or to reject the proposed transaction. The special committee has retained independent legal and financial advisors to assist the committee in considering the proposed transaction.
	There can be no assurance at this stage whether the proposed transaction will be approved and consummated and, if consummated, what the terms (including the exchange ratio) thereof would be. Any potential transaction is subject to the negotiation and execution of definitive agreements, as well as to customary conditions and approvals, including (without limitation) regulatory approvals, an affirmative recommendation of the special committee of the Board of Directors, an approval of the full Board of Directors, and the approval of the shareholders of each of the Company and OIL.

Accounting_Policies_by_Policy_

Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Comprehensive Income, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Other comprehensive income
	For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company reclassified $107,000 and $124,000, respectively, from other comprehensive income, of which $173,000 and $200,000, respectively, were recorded to reduce interest expense and $66,000 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, 2014 and 2013, the Company reclassified $35,000 and $40,000, respectively, from other comprehensive income, of which $57,000 and $76,000, respectively, were recorded to reduce interest expense and $22,000 and $25,000, respectively, were recorded against the income tax provision, in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.
Contract Termination Fee, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	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.
Solar Project Sale, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Solar project sale
	On March 26, 2014, the Company signed an agreement with RET Holdings, LLC to sell the Heber Solar project in Imperial County, California for $35.25 million. The Company received the first payment of $15.0 million during the first quarter of 2014 and the second payment for the remaining $20.25 million was paid in the second quarter of 2014. Due to certain contingencies in the sale agreement, the Company deferred the pre-tax gain of approximately $7.6 million until the contingencies were resolved in the second quarter of 2014.
Exploratory Drilling Costs Capitalization and Impairment, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Write-off of unsuccessful exploration activities
	Write-off of unsuccessful activities for the nine months ended September, 30, 2014, was $8.1 million. This represents the write-off of exploration costs related to the Company’s exploration activities in the Wister site in California, which the Company determined in the second quarter of 2014 would not support commercial operations.
Business Combinations Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Acquisition of interests in Crump Geyser and North Valley Geothermal projects
	On August 5, 2014, the Company signed a definitive Purchase and Sale Agreement with Alternative Earth Resources Inc. (“AER”), pursuant to which the Company paid $1.5 million in cash and (i) purchased AER's (a) 50% interest in Crump Geyser Company (“CGC”), which holds the rights to the Crump Geyser geothermal project, and (b) rights to the North Valley geothermal project (ii) obtained an option, exercisable over a four-year period, to purchase certain of AER's New Truckhaven geothermal lease. Prior to this transaction, CGC was consolidated by the Company as variable interest entity. As a result of the acquisition of the remaining interest, the Company continues to consolidate Crump, but now as a wholly owned indirect subsidiary, and so the carrying value of the non-controlling interest of CGC of $1.0 million was reclassified to the Company's equity and the difference of $0.2 million between the fair value of the consideration paid and the related carrying value of the nonconrolling interest acquired was recorded within “additional paid-in capital” in the condensed consolidated statement of equity.
Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	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, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had deposits totaling $23,016,000 and $13,805,000, respectively, in seven U.S. financial institutions that were federally insured up to $250,000 per account. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company’s deposits in foreign countries amounted to approximately $31,279,000 and $56,133,000, respectively.
	At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, accounts receivable related to operations in foreign countries amounted to approximately $42,914,000 and $32,231,000, respectively. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, accounts receivable from the Company’s primary customers (as described immediately below) amounted to approximately 54.1% and 35.0% of the Company’s accounts receivable, respectively.
	Sierra Pacific Power Company and Nevada Power Company (subsidiaries of NV Energy, Inc.) accounted for 14.6% and 15.3% of the Company’s total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and 16.6% and 17.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	Southern California Edison accounted for 19.8% and 20.9% of the Company’s total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and 15.2% and 14.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	Hawaii Electric Light Company accounted for 7.3% and 8.7% of the Company’s total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and 8.8% and 8.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	Kenya Power and Lighting Co. Ltd. accounted for 15.7% and 13.9% of the Company’s total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and 15.6% and 10.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, 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.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	New accounting pronouncements effective in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014
	Presentation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits
	In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“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 was applied prospectively to all unrecognized tax benefits that exist on January 1, 2014. The adoption of this guidance did have a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.
	New accounting pronouncements effective in future periods
	Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures
	In April 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity. The amendment, required to be applied prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014, limits discontinued operations reporting to disposals of components of an entity that represent strategic shifts that have, or will have, a major effect on operations and financial results. The amendment requires expanded disclosures for discontinued operations and also requires additional disclosures regarding disposals of individually significant components that do not qualify as discontinued operations. Early adoption is permitted, but only for disposals (or classifications as held for sale) that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued or available for issuance. This amendment has no impact on our current disclosures, but will in the future if we dispose of any individually significant components of the Company.
	Revenues from Contracts with Customers
	In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenues from Contracts with Customers, Topic 606, which was a joint project of the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue and to develop a common revenue standard for U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. The update provides that an entity should recognize revenue in connection with the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Specifically, an entity is required to apply each of the following steps: (1) identify the contract(s) with the customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contracts; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligation in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The amendments in this update are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of the adoption of these amendments on its consolidated financial statements.

Note_3_Inventories_Tables

Note 3 - Inventories (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block]	'
	Inventories consist of the following:
		September 30,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Raw materials and purchased parts for assembly	$	10,412	$	6,326
	Self-manufactured assembly parts and finished products		6,925		15,963
	Total	$	17,337	$	22,289

Note_4_Unconsolidated_Investme1

Note 4 - Unconsolidated Investments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]	'
Equity Method Investments [Table Text Block]	'
		September 30,		December 31,
		2014		2013
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Sarulla	$	1,339	$	7,076

Note_5_Fair_Value_of_Financial1

Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping [Table Text Block]	'
		Carrying
		value at
		September 30,				Fair Value at September 30, 2014
		2014				Total				Level 1				Level 2				Level 3
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Assets
	Current assets:
	Cash equivalents (including restricted cash accounts)	$	116,118			$	116,118			$	116,118			$	—			$	—
	Derivatives:
	Swap transaction on oil price(1)		1,134				1,134				—				1,134				—
	Swap transaction on natural gas price(2)		502				502				—				502				—
	Liabilities:
	Current liabilities:
	Currency forward contracts(3)		(2,183	)			(2,183	)			—				(2,183	)			—
		$	115,571			$	115,571			$	116,118			$	(547	)		$	—
		Carrying
		value at
		December 31,				Fair Value at December 31, 2013
		2013				Total				Level 1				Level 2				Level 3
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Assets
	Current assets:
	Cash equivalents (including restricted cash accounts)	$	40,015			$	40,015			$	40,015			$	—			$	—
	Derivatives:
	Currency forward contracts(3)		2,290				2,290				—				2,290				—
	Liabilities
	Current liabilities:
	Derivatives:
	Swap transaction on oil price(1)		(2,490	)			(2,490	)			—				(2,490	)			—
	Swap transaction on natural gas price(2)		(341	)			(341	)			—				(341	)			—
		$	39,474			$	39,474			$	40,015			$	(541	)		$	—
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Table Text Block]	'
				Amount of recognized gain (loss)
	Derivatives not designated	Location of recognized gain (loss)		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
	as hedging instruments			September 30,								September 30,
				2014				2013				2014				2013
				(Dollars in thousands)								(Dollars in thousands)
	Put options on oil price	Electricity revenues		$	—			$	(824	)		$	—			$	(1,256	)
	Swap transaction on oil price	Electricity revenues			1,657				—				1,885				(294	)
	Swap transaction on natural gas price	Electricity revenues			2,295				477				(609	)			81
	Currency forward contracts	Foreign currency translation and transaction gains (losses)			(2,422	)			1,970				(2,430	)			4,895
				$	1,530			$	1,623			$	(1,154	)		$	3,426
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,
		2014				2013				2014				2013
		(Dollars in millions)								(Dollars in millions)
	Olkaria III loan - DEG	$	36.6			$	40.3			$	35.5			$	39.5
	Olkaria III loan - OPIC		276.8				279.6				287.1				299.9
	Amatitlan loan		—				34.8				—				31.5
	Senior secured notes:
	Ormat Funding LLC ("OFC")		78				83.5				72.5				90.8
	OrCal Geothermal LLC ("OrCal")		64.3				65.8				63.2				66.2
	OFC 2 LLC ("OFC 2")		233.9				119				274.5				144.4
	Senior unsecured bonds		264.9				270.6				250.4				250.6
	Loans from institutional investors		14.2				20.1				13.9				19.5
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Table Text Block]	'
		Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
		(Dollars in millions)
	Olkaria III loan - DEG	$	—			$	—			$	36.6			$	36.6
	Olkaria III loan - OPIC		—				—				276.8				276.8
	Senior secured notes:
	OFC		—				—				78				78
	OrCal		—				—				64.3				64.3
	OFC 2		—				—				233.9				233.9
	Senior unsecured bonds		—				—				264.9				264.9
	Loan from institutional investors		—				—				14.2				14.2
	Other long-term debt		—				15				—				15
	Revolving lines of credit		—				28.1				—				28.1
	Deposits		21.7				—				—				21.7
		Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
		(Dollars in millions)
	Olkaria III loan - DEG	$	—			$	—			$	40.3			$	40.3
	Olkaria III loan - OPIC		—				—				279.6				279.6
	Amatitlan loan		—				—				34.8				34.8
	Senior secured notes:
	OFC		—				83.5				—				83.5
	OrCal		—				—				65.8				65.8
	OFC 2		—				—				119				119
	Senior unsecured bonds		—				—				270.6				270.6
	Loan from institutional investors		—				—				20.1				20.1
	Other long-term debt		—				23.3				—				23.3
	Revolving lines of credit		—				112				—				112
	Deposits		21.3				—				—				21.3

Note_6_StockBased_Compensation1

Note 6 - Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Chief Financial Officer [Member]	'
Note 6 - Stock-Based Compensation (Tables) [Line Items]	'
Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block]	'
	Risk-free interest rates		0.81	%
	Expected life (in years)		3.375
	Dividend yield		0.8	%
	Expected volatility		33.5	%
	Forfeiture rate		0	%
Chief Executive Officer [Member]	'
Note 6 - Stock-Based Compensation (Tables) [Line Items]	'
Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block]	'
		Grant of options to			Grant of options to
		purchase 300,000			purchase 100,000
		shares of common			shares of common
		stock			stock
	Risk-free interest rates		2.36	%		1.64	%
	Expected life (in years)		7.25			4.75
	Dividend yield		0.9	%		0.9	%
	Expected volatility		42.8	%		33.1	%

Note_7_Interest_Expense_Net_Ta

Note 7 - Interest Expense, Net (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Interest Expense Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Other Nonoperating Expense, by Component [Table Text Block]	'
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013
		(Dollars in thousands)						(Dollars in thousands)
	Interest related to sale of tax benefits	$	3,430		$	3,479		$	9,678		$	9,233
	Other interest expense		19,910			16,811			57,139			48,820
	Less — amount capitalized		(846	)		(1,831	)		(1,733	)		(6,227	)
		$	22,494		$	18,459		$	65,084		$	51,826

Note_8_Earnings_Per_Share_Tabl

Note 8 - Earnings Per Share (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Weighted Average Number of Shares [Table Text Block]	'
		Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014		2013		2014		2013
		(In thousands)				(In thousands)
	Weighted average number of shares used in computation of basic earnings per share		45,690		45,438		45,594		45,433
	Add:
	Additional shares from the assumed exercise of employee stock-based awards		412		56		323		21
	Weighted average number of shares used in computation of diluted earnings per share		46,102		45,494		45,917		45,454

Note_9_Business_Segments_Table

Note 9 - Business Segments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]	'
		Electricity			Product			Consolidated
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Three Months Ended September 30, 2014:
	Net revenues from external customers	$	102,506		$	37,736		$	140,242
	Intersegment revenues		—			7,244			7,244
	Operating income		32,411			11,377			43,788
	Segment assets at period end *		2,083,715			88,198			2,171,913
	* Including unconsolidated investments		1,339			—			1,339
	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
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014:
	Net revenues from external customers	$	289,015		$	121,266		$	410,281
	Intersegment revenues		—			43,580			43,580
	Operating income		72,850			35,839			108,689
	Segment assets at period end *		2,083,715			88,198			2,171,913
	* Including unconsolidated investments		1,339			—			1,339
	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
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Table Text Block]	'
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013
		(Dollars in thousands)						(Dollars in thousands)
	Operating income	$	43,788		$	29,797		$	108,689		$	75,343
	Interest income		35			742			236			870
	Interest expense, net		(22,494	)		(18,459	)		(65,084	)		(51,826	)
	Foreign currency translation and transaction gains (losses)		(2,946	)		1,258			(3,639	)		3,844
	Income attributable to sale of tax benefits		5,487			5,027			18,334			14,342
	Gain from sale of property, plant and equipment		—			—			7,628			—
	Other non-operating income, net		243			137			649			1,583
	Total income, before income taxes, discontinued operations and equity in income (losses) of investees	$	24,113		$	18,502		$	66,813		$	44,156

Note_11_Income_Taxes_Tables

Note 11 - Income Taxes (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Summary of Income Tax Contingencies [Table Text Block]	'
		Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2014		2013
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Balance at beginning of period	$	4,950	$	7,280
	Additions based on tax positions taken in prior years		93		901
	Additions based on tax positions taken in current year		563		697
	Balance at end of period	$	5,606	$	8,878

Note_13_Discontinued_Operation1

Note 13 - Discontinued Operations (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Note 13 - Discontinued Operations (Tables) [Line Items]	'
Schedule of Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures [Table Text Block]	'
		Nine Months Ended
		September 30,
		2013
		(Dollars in thousands)
	Revenues - electricity	$	4,866
	Cost of revenues - electricity		(2,869	)
	Gross margin		1,997
	Operating expenses:
	Selling and marketing expenses:		(192	)
	General and administrative expenses:		(140	)
	Operating income:		1,665
	Income from discontinued operations before income taxes		5,311
	Income tax provision		(614	)
	Total income from discontinued operations	$	4,697
Balance Sheet [Member]	'
Note 13 - Discontinued Operations (Tables) [Line Items]	'
Schedule of Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures [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_Pr1

Note 1 - General and Basis of Presentation (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Mar. 26, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Aug. 05, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Aug. 05, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Aug. 05, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Heber Solar Project [Member]

Heber Solar Project [Member]

Heber Solar Project [Member]

Selling and Marketing Expense [Member]

Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]

Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]

Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]

Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]

Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]

Noncontrolling Interest [Member]

Noncontrolling Interest [Member]

Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]

Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]

Southern California Edison Company [Member]

Southern California Edison Company [Member]

Southern California Edison Company [Member]

Southern California Edison Company [Member]

Southern California Edison Company [Member]

Primary Customers [Member]

Primary Customers [Member]

Sierra Pacific Power Company And Nevada Power Company [Member]

Sierra Pacific Power Company And Nevada Power Company [Member]

Sierra Pacific Power Company And Nevada Power Company [Member]

Sierra Pacific Power Company And Nevada Power Company [Member]

Hawaii Electric Light Company [Member]

Hawaii Electric Light Company [Member]

Hawaii Electric Light Company [Member]

Hawaii Electric Light Company [Member]

Kenya Power And Lighting Co Limited [Member]

Kenya Power And Lighting Co Limited [Member]

Kenya Power And Lighting Co Limited [Member]

Kenya Power And Lighting Co Limited [Member]

Crump Geyser Company [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

UNITED STATES

UNITED STATES

Foreign Countries [Member]

Foreign Countries [Member]

Southern California Edison Company [Member]

Crump Geyser Company [Member]

Crump Geyser Company [Member]

Sales Revenue, Net [Member]

Sales Revenue, Net [Member]

Sales Revenue, Net [Member]

Sales Revenue, Net [Member]

Accounts Receivable [Member]

Accounts Receivable [Member]

Sales Revenue, Net [Member]

Sales Revenue, Net [Member]

Sales Revenue, Net [Member]

Sales Revenue, Net [Member]

Sales Revenue, Net [Member]

Sales Revenue, Net [Member]

Sales Revenue, Net [Member]

Sales Revenue, Net [Member]

Sales Revenue, Net [Member]

Sales Revenue, Net [Member]

Sales Revenue, Net [Member]

Sales Revenue, Net [Member]

Customer Concentration Risk [Member]

Customer Concentration Risk [Member]

Customer Concentration Risk [Member]

Customer Concentration Risk [Member]

Customer Concentration Risk [Member]

Customer Concentration Risk [Member]

Customer Concentration Risk [Member]

Customer Concentration Risk [Member]

Customer Concentration Risk [Member]

Customer Concentration Risk [Member]

Customer Concentration Risk [Member]

Customer Concentration Risk [Member]

Customer Concentration Risk [Member]

Customer Concentration Risk [Member]

Customer Concentration Risk [Member]

Customer Concentration Risk [Member]

Customer Concentration Risk [Member]

Customer Concentration Risk [Member]

Note 1 - General and Basis of Presentation (Details) [Line Items]

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Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax

$35,000

$40,000

$107,000

'

$124,000

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Interest Expense

22,494,000

18,459,000

'

65,084,000

51,826,000

'

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'

'

57,000

76,000

'

173,000

200,000

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Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

6,444,000

5,201,000

'

17,731,000

15,028,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

22,000

25,000

88,000

66,000

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Termination Fees

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9,000,000

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Contract Extension Period

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'6 years

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Sales Price of Disposition

'

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35,250,000

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Proceeds from Sales of Business, Affiliate and Productive Assets

'

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'

'

20,250,000

15,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Gain (Loss) on Sale of Project

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

7,600,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Exploration Abandonment and Impairment Expense

8,100,000

'

'

8,107,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Payments to Acquire Interest in Subsidiaries and Affiliates

'

'

'

1,490,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

50.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Business Combination

'

'

'

-828,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-1,000,000

-987,000

200,000

159,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Cash, FDIC Insured Amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

250,000

250,000

'

'

'

'

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments

42,451,000

35,435,000

'

42,451,000

35,435,000

57,354,000

66,628,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

23,016,000

13,805,000

31,279,000

56,133,000

Accounts Receivable, Net, Current

75,224,000

'

'

75,224,000

'

95,365,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

42,914,000

32,231,000

Concentration Risk, Percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

19.80%

20.90%

15.20%

14.90%

'

54.10%

35.00%

14.60%

15.30%

16.60%

17.00%

7.30%

8.70%

8.80%

8.90%

15.70%

13.90%

15.60%

10.90%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Provision for Doubtful Accounts

'

'

'

$0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Note_3_Inventories_Details_Inv

Note 3 - Inventories (Details) - Inventories, Current (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventories, Current [Abstract]	'	'
Raw materials and purchased parts for assembly	$10,412	$6,326
Self-manufactured assembly parts and finished products	6,925	15,963
Total	$17,337	$22,289

Note_4_Unconsolidated_Investme2

Note 4 - Unconsolidated Investments (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 04, 2014

Jun. 04, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sarulla [Member]

Sarulla [Member]

Sarulla [Member]

Sarulla [Member]

Sarulla [Member]

Sarulla [Member]

Sarulla [Member]

Sarulla [Member]

Sarulla [Member]

Subject to Fixed Interest Rate [Member]

Subject to LIBOR based Interest Rate [Member]

Subject to Fixed LIBOR Interest Rate [Member]

Interest Rate Swap [Member]

Interest Rate Swap [Member]

Interest Rate Swap [Member]

Lenders Consortium [Member]

Lenders Consortium [Member]

Lenders Consortium [Member]

Interest Rate Swap [Member]

London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]

Lenders Consortium [Member]

Lenders Consortium [Member]

Lenders Consortium [Member]

Note 4 - Unconsolidated Investments (Details) [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Jointly Owned Utility Plant, Proportionate Ownership Share

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

12.75%

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

'

'

Senior Notes

'

'

'

'

$100,000,000

$1,070,000,000

$960,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

$1,170,000,000

Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3.46%

'

'

'

'

'

Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

50,000,000

'

'

'

'

Derivative Instruments, Loss Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Effective Portion

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

40,500,000

'

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax

-933,000

'

-933,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5,200,000

'

Period To Start Remaining Phases Of Construction After Commencement Of First Phase

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'18 months

'

'

Supply Commitment, Remaining Minimum Amount Committed

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

254,000,000

254,000,000

'

'

Sales Revenue, Goods, Net

37,736,000

41,755,000

121,266,000

157,329,000

'

'

'

'

'

13,800,000

13,800,000

'

'

Payments to Acquire Projects

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$600,000

'

'

Note_4_Unconsolidated_Investme3

Note 4 - Unconsolidated Investments (Details) - Unconsolidated Investments Mainly in Power Plants (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'		'	'
Sarulla	$1,339	[1]	$7,076	$5,419	[1]
Sarulla [Member]	'		'	'
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'		'	'
Sarulla	$1,339		$7,076	'
[1]	Including unconsolidated investments

Note_5_Fair_Value_of_Financial2

Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Aug. 29, 2014

Jun. 20, 2014

Mar. 06, 2014

Oct. 16, 2013

Sep. 03, 2013

Oct. 16, 2013

Aug. 18, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Aug. 13, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

OFC Two Senior Secured Notes [Member]

OFC Two Senior Secured Notes [Member]

NGI Swap Contract [Member]

NGI Swap Contract [Member]

NGI Swap Contract [Member]

New York Harbor ULSD Swap Contract [Member]

Interest Rate Cap [Member]

Interest Rate Cap [Member]

Interest Rate Cap [Member]

EIG Global Fund II, Ltd. [Member]

Subsidiaries [Member]

mJ

mJ

mJ

bbl

Subsidiaries [Member]

MWh

Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Energy Measure (in Millijoules)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,200,000

4,200,000

4,400,000

'

'

'

'

'

Underlying, Derivative Energy Measure (in Dollars per Millijoule)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4.95

4.103

4.035

125.15

'

'

'

'

Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Volume (in Barrels (of Oil))

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

275,000

'

'

'

'

Fluctuation in Energy Rate (in Megawatt-hours)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

25

'

'

'

'

Gain (Loss) on Price Risk Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments

$4,000,000

($300,000)

$1,300,000

$1,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Repayments of Long-term Debt

'

'

80,223,000

37,480,000

'

'

4,300,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

30,000,000

Debt Instrument, Face Amount

'

'

'

'

'

140,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

7.00%

'

7.00%

'

7.00%

4.61%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Derivative, Notional Amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

140,000,000

'

Payments for Derivative Instrument, Financing Activities

'

'

1,505,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,500,000

'

'

'

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax

-933,000

'

-933,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-900,000

'

'

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Tax

'

'

572,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

600,000

'

'

Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedge Gain (Loss) to be Reclassified During Next 12 Months, Net

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

-200,000

'

'

Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

42,000,000

Interest Expense

22,494,000

18,459,000

65,084,000

51,826,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,100,000

Prepayment Premium

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

600,000

Write off of Deferred Debt Issuance Cost

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$500,000

Note_5_Fair_Value_of_Financial3

Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Financial Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'		'
Cost or Amortized Cost	$42,451		$57,354
Fair Value	116,118		40,015
Current liabilities:	'		'
Fair Value	115,571		39,474
Crude Oil Price Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Fair Value	'	[1]	'
Current liabilities:	'		'
Fair Value	'		'	[1]
Crude Oil Price Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Fair Value	1,134	[1]	'
Current liabilities:	'		'
Fair Value	'		-2,490	[1]
Crude Oil Price Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Fair Value	'	[1]	'
Current liabilities:	'		'
Fair Value	'		'	[1]
Crude Oil Price Swap [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Fair Value	1,134	[1]	'
Current liabilities:	'		'
Fair Value	'		-2,490	[1]
Crude Oil Price Swap [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Cost or Amortized Cost	1,134	[1]	'
Current liabilities:	'		'
Cost or Amortized Cost	'		-2,490	[1]
Natural Gas Price Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Fair Value	'	[2]	'
Natural Gas Price Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Fair Value	502	[2]	'
Natural Gas Price Swap [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Fair Value	'	[2]	'
Natural Gas Price Swap [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Fair Value	502	[2]	'
Natural Gas Price Swap [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Cost or Amortized Cost	502	[2]	'
Forward Contracts [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Fair Value	'		'	[3]
Current liabilities:	'		'
Fair Value	'	[3]	'
Forward Contracts [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Fair Value	'		2,290	[3]
Current liabilities:	'		'
Fair Value	-2,183	[3]	'
Forward Contracts [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Fair Value	'		'	[3]
Current liabilities:	'		'
Fair Value	'	[3]	'
Forward Contracts [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Fair Value	'		2,290	[3]
Current liabilities:	'		'
Fair Value	-2,183	[3]	'
Forward Contracts [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [Member]	'		'
Derivatives:	'		'
Cost or Amortized Cost	'		2,290	[3]
Current liabilities:	'		'
Cost or Amortized Cost	-2,183	[3]	'
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Natural Gas Price Swap [Member]	'		'
Current liabilities:	'		'
Fair Value	'		'	[2]
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'		'
Current assets:	'		'
Fair Value	116,118		40,015
Current liabilities:	'		'
Fair Value	116,118		40,015
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Natural Gas Price Swap [Member]	'		'
Current liabilities:	'		'
Fair Value	'		-341	[2]
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'		'
Current liabilities:	'		'
Fair Value	-547		-541
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Natural Gas Price Swap [Member]	'		'
Current liabilities:	'		'
Fair Value	'		'	[2]
Natural Gas Price Swap [Member]	'		'
Current liabilities:	'		'
Fair Value	'		-341	[2]
Natural Gas Price Swap [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [Member]	'		'
Current liabilities:	'		'
Cost or Amortized Cost	'		-341	[2]
Reported Value Measurement [Member]	'		'
Current assets:	'		'
Cost or Amortized Cost	116,118		40,015
Current liabilities:	'		'
Cost or Amortized Cost	$115,571		$39,474
[1]	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" and "accounts payable and accrued expenses" 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 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" and "accounts payable and accrued expenses" 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).
[3]	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 andcomprehensive income (loss).

Note_5_Fair_Value_of_Financial4

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, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Amount of gain (loss) recognized	$1,530	$1,623	($1,154)	$3,426
Electricity Revenues [Member] | Put Option [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Amount of gain (loss) recognized	'	-824	'	-1,256
Electricity Revenues [Member] | Crude Oil Price Swap [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Amount of gain (loss) recognized	1,657	'	1,885	-294
Electricity Revenues [Member] | Natural Gas Price Swap [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Amount of gain (loss) recognized	2,295	477	-609	81
Foreign Currency Gain (Loss) [Member] | Forward Contracts [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Amount of gain (loss) recognized	($2,422)	$1,970	($2,430)	$4,895

Note_5_Fair_Value_of_Financial5

Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates its Carrying Amount, Exceptions (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
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	$15	$23.30
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]	'	'
Loans from institutional investors	36.6	40.3
Olkaria III - DEG [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Loan	36.6	40.3
Olkaria III - DEG [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Loan	35.5	39.5
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]	'	'
Loans from institutional investors	276.8	279.6
Olkaria III - OPIC [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Loan	276.8	279.6
Olkaria III - OPIC [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Loan	287.1	299.9
Amatitlan 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	'	34.8
Amatitlan Member | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Loan	'	34.8
Amatitlan Member | Reported Value Measurement [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Long-term Debt Approximates its Carrying Amount, Exceptions [Line Items]	'	'
Loan	'	31.5
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]	'	'
Loans from institutional investors	78	83.5
Ormat Funding Corp [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [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	78	83.5
Ormat Funding Corp [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [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	72.5	90.8
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]	'	'
Loans from institutional investors	64.3	65.8
Orcal Geothermal Inc [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [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	64.3	65.8
Orcal Geothermal Inc [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [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	63.2	66.2
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]	'	'
Loans from institutional investors	233.9	119
OFC Two Senior Secured Notes [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [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	233.9	119
OFC Two Senior Secured Notes [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [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	274.5	144.4
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]	'	'
Loans from institutional investors	264.9	270.6
Senior Unsecured Bonds Member | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [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	264.9	270.6
Senior Unsecured Bonds Member | Reported Value Measurement [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	250.4	250.6
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	14.2	20.1
Institutional Investors [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [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	14.2	20.1
Institutional Investors [Member] | Reported Value Measurement [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	$13.90	$19.50

Note_5_Fair_Value_of_Financial6

Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value levels-secured,unsecured and long term debt	$15	$23.30
Revolving credit lines with banks	28.1	112
Deposits	21.7	21.3
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]	'	'
Fair value levels-secured,unsecured and long term debt	36.6	40.3
Olkaria III - DEG [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value levels-secured,unsecured and long term debt	36.6	40.3
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]	'	'
Fair value levels-secured,unsecured and long term debt	276.8	279.6
Olkaria III - OPIC [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value levels-secured,unsecured and long term debt	276.8	279.6
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]	'	'
Fair value levels-secured,unsecured and long term debt	'	83.5
Ormat Funding Corp [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value levels-secured,unsecured and long term debt	78	'
Ormat Funding Corp [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value levels-secured,unsecured and long term debt	78	83.5
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]	'	'
Fair value levels-secured,unsecured and long term debt	64.3	65.8
Orcal Geothermal Inc [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value levels-secured,unsecured and long term debt	64.3	65.8
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]	'	'
Fair value levels-secured,unsecured and long term debt	233.9	119
OFC Two Senior Secured Notes [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value levels-secured,unsecured and long term debt	233.9	119
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]	'	'
Fair value levels-secured,unsecured and long term debt	264.9	270.6
Senior Unsecured Bonds Member	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value levels-secured,unsecured and long term debt	264.9	270.6
Institutional Investors [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value levels-secured,unsecured and long term debt	14.2	20.1
Institutional Investors [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value levels-secured,unsecured and long term debt	14.2	20.1
Amatitlan Member | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value levels-secured,unsecured and long term debt	'	34.8
Amatitlan Member	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value levels-secured,unsecured and long term debt	'	34.8
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Deposits	21.7	21.3
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value levels-secured,unsecured and long term debt	15	23.3
Revolving credit lines with banks	$28.10	$112

Note_6_StockBased_Compensation2

Note 6 - Stock-Based Compensation (Details) (USD $)

12 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2004

31-May-12

Dec. 31, 2004

Dec. 31, 2004

31-May-12

Dec. 31, 2004

31-May-12

Dec. 31, 2004

31-May-12

Feb. 11, 2014

Apr. 02, 2014

Apr. 02, 2014

31-May-12

31-May-12

Sep. 30, 2014

Feb. 11, 2014

Apr. 02, 2014

Dec. 31, 2004

31-May-12

Stock Options And Stock Appreciation Rights [Member]

Stock Options And Stock Appreciation Rights [Member]

Stock Options And Stock Appreciation Rights [Member]

Stock Options And Stock Appreciation Rights [Member]

Stock Options And Stock Appreciation Rights [Member]

Stock Options And Stock Appreciation Rights [Member]

Stock Options And Stock Appreciation Rights [Member]

Employee Stock Option [Member]

Employee Stock Option [Member]

Employee Stock Option [Member]

Options to Purchase 300,000 Shares of Common Stock [Member]

Options to Purchase 100,000 Shares of Common Stock [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Officer [Member]

Chief Financial Officer [Member]

Chief Executive Officer [Member]

2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]

2012 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]

Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche One [Member]

Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche One [Member]

Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche One [Member]

Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche Two [Member]

Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche Two [Member]

Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche Three [Member]

Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche Three [Member]

Non Employee Director [Member]

Non Employee Director [Member]

Chief Financial Officer [Member]

Chief Executive Officer [Member]

Chief Executive Officer [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]

2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]

2012 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]

2012 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]

2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]

2012 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]

2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]

2012 Stock Incentive Plan [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]

Note 6 - Stock-Based Compensation (Details) [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized (in Shares)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3,750,000

4,000,000

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Percentage

25.00%

25.00%

'

25.00%

25.00%

50.00%

50.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period

'

'24 months

'24 months

'36 months

'36 months

'48 months

'48 years

'1 year

'1 year

'3 years

'4 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Awards Exercise Period

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'10 years

'

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'5 years

'6 years

'7 years

'6 years

'10 years

'

'

'

'

'

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Additional Shares Authorized (in Shares)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

400,000

'

'

'

'

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Net of Forfeitures (in Shares)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

32,500

'

'

'

Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in Dollars per share)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$24.57

$29.52

'

'

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (in Dollars per share)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$8.33

$12.88

'

'

'

$5.78

'

'

'

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross (in Shares)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

400,000

'

'

Note_6_StockBased_Compensation3

Note 6 - Stock-Based Compensation (Details) - Fair Value of Each Option Using Black-Scholes Valuation Model Assumptions (Chief Financial Officer [Member], 2012 Incentive Plan [Member])	0 Months Ended
	Feb. 14, 2014
Chief Financial Officer [Member] | 2012 Incentive Plan [Member]	'
Note 6 - Stock-Based Compensation (Details) - Fair Value of Each Option Using Black-Scholes Valuation Model Assumptions [Line Items]	'
Risk-free interest rates	0.81%
Expected life (in years)	'3 years 136 days
Dividend yield	0.80%
Expected volatility	33.50%
Forfeiture rate	0.00%

Note_6_StockBased_Compensation4

Note 6 - Stock-Based Compensation (Details) - Fair Value of Each Option Using Black-Scholes Valuation Model Assumptions (Chief Executive Officer [Member])	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Options to Purchase 300,000 Shares of Common Stock [Member]	'
Note 6 - Stock-Based Compensation (Details) - Fair Value of Each Option Using Black-Scholes Valuation Model Assumptions [Line Items]	'
Risk-free interest rates	2.36%
Expected life (in years)	'7 years 3 months
Dividend yield	0.90%
Expected volatility	42.80%
Options to Purchase 100,000 Shares of Common Stock [Member]	'
Note 6 - Stock-Based Compensation (Details) - Fair Value of Each Option Using Black-Scholes Valuation Model Assumptions [Line Items]	'
Risk-free interest rates	1.64%
Expected life (in years)	'4 years 9 months
Dividend yield	0.90%
Expected volatility	33.10%

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, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Components of Interest Expense [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Interest related to sale of tax benefits	$3,430	$3,479	$9,678	$9,233
Other interest expense	19,910	16,811	57,139	48,820
Less b amount capitalized	-846	-1,831	-1,733	-6,227
	$22,494	$18,459	$65,084	$51,826

Note_8_Earnings_Per_Share_Deta

Note 8 - Earnings Per Share (Details) (Stock Compensation Plan [Member])	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Stock Compensation Plan [Member]	'	'	'	'
Note 8 - Earnings Per Share (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	3,344,331	4,999,298	3,257,456	5,312,238

Note_8_Earnings_Per_Share_Deta1

Note 8 - Earnings 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, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
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	45,690	45,438	45,594	45,433
Additional shares from the assumed exercise of employee stock-based awards	412	56	323	21
Weighted average number of shares used in computation of diluted earnings per share	46,102	45,494	45,917	45,454

Note_9_Business_Segments_Detai

Note 9 - Business Segments (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
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, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'		'		'		'		'
Net revenues from external customers	$140,242		$130,749		$410,281		$402,334		'
Operating income	43,788		29,797		108,689		75,343		'
Segment assets at period end *	2,171,913	[1]	2,168,335	[1]	2,171,913	[1]	2,168,335	[1]	2,159,433
* Including unconsolidated investments	1,339	[1]	5,419	[1]	1,339	[1]	5,419	[1]	7,076
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Product Segment [Member]	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'		'		'		'		'
Intersegment revenues	7,244		4,329		43,580		29,731		'
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'		'		'		'		'
Intersegment revenues	7,244		4,329		43,580		29,731		'
Electricity Member	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'		'		'		'		'
Net revenues from external customers	102,506		88,994		289,015		245,005		'
Operating income	32,411		20,732		72,850		42,057		'
Segment assets at period end *	2,083,715	[1]	2,048,021	[1]	2,083,715	[1]	2,048,021	[1]	'
* Including unconsolidated investments	1,339	[1]	5,419	[1]	1,339	[1]	5,419	[1]	'
Product Segment [Member]	'		'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'		'		'		'		'
Net revenues from external customers	37,736		41,755		121,266		157,329		'
Operating income	11,377		9,065		35,839		33,286		'
Segment assets at period end *	88,198	[1]	120,314	[1]	88,198	[1]	120,314	[1]	'
* Including unconsolidated investments	'	[1]	'	[1]	'	[1]	'	[1]	'
[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, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Reconciling Information Between Reportable Segments and Consolidated Totals [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Operating income	$43,788	$29,797	$108,689	$75,343
Interest income	35	742	236	870
Interest expense, net	-22,494	-18,459	-65,084	-51,826
Foreign currency translation and transaction gains (losses)	-2,946	1,258	-3,639	3,844
Income attributable to sale of tax benefits	5,487	5,027	18,334	14,342
Gain from sale of property, plant and equipment	'	'	7,628	'
Other non-operating income, net	243	137	649	1,583
Total income, before income taxes, discontinued operations and equity in income (losses) of investees	$24,113	$18,502	$66,813	$44,156

Note_11_Income_Taxes_Details

Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Domestic Tax Authority [Member]

State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]

Investment One [Member]

Investment One [Member]

Investment Two [Member]

Investment Two [Member]

Investment Tax Credit Carryforward [Member]

Investment Tax Credit Carryforward [Member]

Investment Tax Credit Carryforward [Member]

General Business Tax Credit Carryforward [Member]

General Business Tax Credit Carryforward [Member]

General Business Tax Credit Carryforward [Member]

Israel Tax Authority [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Israel Tax Authority [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Israel Tax Authority [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Ormat Systems Ltd Member

Israel Tax Authority [Member]

Ormat Systems Ltd Member

Israel Tax Authority [Member]

Ormat Systems Ltd Member

Ormat Systems Ltd Member

Ormat Systems Ltd Member

Note 11 - Income Taxes (Details) [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent

26.70%

28.10%

'

26.50%

34.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent

35.00%

'

'

35.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Tax Exempt Income, Amount (in Dollars)

$895,000

$495,000

$2,921,000

'

$1,890,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Operating Loss Carryforwards (in Dollars)

'

'

'

'

'

'

235,400,000

218,100,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Tax Credit Carryforward Expiration Period

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'20 years

'

'

'20 years

'

Tax Credit Carryforward Expiration Year

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'2024

'2022

'

'2032

'2026

'

'

Deferred Tax Assets, Investments (in Dollars)

'

'

'

'

'

700,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Credit Carryforwards, General Business (in Dollars)

'

'

'

'

'

$71,300,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Period For Tax Exemption

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'2 years

'

'2 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Effective Income Tax Rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

25.00%

'

25.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Income Tax Incentive Period

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'5 years

'

'5 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

16.00%

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, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Reconciliation of Beginning and Ending Amounts of Unrecognized Tax Benefits [Abstract]	'	'
Balance at beginning of period	$4,950	$7,280
Additions based on tax positions taken in prior years	93	901
Additions based on tax positions taken in current year	563	697
Balance at end of period	$5,606	$8,878

Note_12_Tax_Monetization_Trans1

Note 12 - Tax Monetization Transaction (Details) (USD $)

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Jan. 24, 2013

Jan. 24, 2013

Dec. 31, 2011

Feb. 03, 2011

Dec. 31, 2011

Feb. 03, 2011

Dec. 31, 2010

Feb. 03, 2011

Jan. 24, 2013

Oct. 30, 2009

Jun. 30, 2007

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2009

Dec. 31, 2008

Dec. 31, 2007

Dec. 31, 2010

Common Class A [Member]

Common Class B [Member]

Capital Unit, Class A [Member]

Capital Unit, Class A [Member]

Capital Unit, Class B [Member]

Capital Unit, Class B [Member]

Capital Unit, 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]

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]

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]

Ormat Nevada Ortp LLC [Member]

Note 12 - Tax Monetization Transaction (Details) [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Number Of Facilities

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4

'

'

'

'

'

Proceeds From Sale Of Equity Units (in Dollars)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$63,000,000

$71,800,000

'

Percentage Of Ownership Interests Flip Date

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

95.00%

Percentage Of Ownership Interests By Noncontrolling Owners Flip Date

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5.00%

'

3.50%

'

'

'

'

'

5.00%

Percentage Of Ownership Interests

'

'

'

'

75.00%

75.00%

25.00%

7.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

82.50%

Ownership Percentage Of Common Shares Outstanding

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

30.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Ownership Percentage Of Common Shares Outstanding By NonControlling Interest

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

70.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

17.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Payments for Repurchase of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest (in Dollars)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

18,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

Gain From Repurchase Of Interests At Discount (in Dollars)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

13,300,000

'

'

'

Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Purchase Of Noncontrolling Interest (in Dollars)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,100,000

'

'

'

Percentage Of Ownership Interests Purchased From Noncontrolling Owners

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.50%

'

'

'

'

1.50%

'

'

'

Proceeds Sale Minority Interest (in Dollars)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

24,900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Subsidiary Equity Issuance (in Dollars)

257,000

5,151,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,300,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Proceeds from Sales of Business, Affiliate and Productive Assets (in Dollars)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

35,700,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Additional Proceeds as Percentage of Production Tax Credit

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

25.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Final Additional Payments Expected Date

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

31-Dec-16

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Expected Future Payments (in Dollars)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

11,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests (in Dollars)

$2,234,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$2,200,000

'

'

'

'

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%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Note_13_Discontinued_Operation2

Note 13 - Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	30-May-13	Sep. 30, 2014
					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	$0	$3,646,000	'	$3,600,000

Note_13_Discontinued_Operation3

Note 13 - Discontinued Operations (Details) - Summary of Financial Information Related to Discontinued Operations (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'
Total income from discontinued operations	$5,311
Selling and Marketing Expense [Member] | Momotombo Power Plant [Member]	'
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'
Selling and marketing expenses:	-192
Momotombo Power Plant [Member]	'
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'
Revenues - electricity	4,866
Cost of revenues - electricity	-2,869
Gross margin	1,997
General and administrative expenses:	-140
Operating income:	1,665
Income from discontinued operations before income taxes	5,311
Income tax provision	-614
Total income from discontinued operations	$4,697

Note_13_Discontinued_Operation4

Note 13 - Discontinued Operations (Details) - Net Assets of Momotombo Power Plant (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	30-May-13
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			Momotombo Power Plant [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$42,451	$57,354	$52
Accounts receivable	'	'	2,274
Prepaid expenses and other	36,879	29,654	167
Property, plant and equipment	'	'	3,935
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	-78,411	-98,047	-493
Deferred income taxes	'	'	-442
Accrued severance pay	'	'	-313
Other liabilities	'	'	-590
Net assets	'	'	$4,590

Note_14_Subsequent_Events_Deta

Note 14 - Subsequent Events (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Nov. 05, 2014
					Subsequent Event [Member]
Note 14 - Subsequent Events (Details) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Dividends, Common Stock	'	'	($7,279)	($1,816)	$2,300
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared	$0.05	$0.04	$0.16	$0.04	$0.05