CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total		Common Stock [Member]		Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]		Warrants [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Total Acorn Energy, Inc. Shareholders' Equity [Member]	Non-controlling Interests [Member]
Balances at Dec. 31, 2009	$ (36,098)		$ (132)		$ (58,373)		$ (290)	$ 23,343	$ (4,827)	$ (152)	$ (30,777)	$ (5,321)
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009			13,249,000
Treasury Stock Reissued at Lower than Repurchase Price	438
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(7,781)		0		0		0	(7,186)	0	0	(7,186)	(595)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(17,969)		0		0		0	(17,902)	0	0	(17,902)	(67)
Differences from translation of subsidiaries' financial statements	871		0		0		0	0	0	871	871	0
Issuance by CoaLogix of CoaLogix shares to non-controlling interests	3,010		0		587		0	0	0	0	587	2,423
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues			2,232,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues	11,467		22		11,445		0	0	0	0	11,467	0
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Acquisitions			1,000,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Acquisitions	5,640		10		5,630		0	0	0	0	5,640	0
Shares issued in the acquisition of GridSense - shares			356,000
Shares issued in the acquisition of GridSense	1,867		4		1,863		0	0	0	0	1,867	0
treasury shares issued in acquisition	0		0				0	0		0	0	0
Issuance of treasury shares in exercise of USSI option	1,791				(1,791)	[1]			1,791
Non Controlling Interests Acquired in Acquisition	3,600		0		0		0	0	0	0	0	3,600
Adjustment of non-controlling interests following additional investment by the Company	0		0		2,224		0	0	0	0	2,224	(2,224)
Shares issued in December capital raise, net of transaction costs -shares			1,150,000
Shares issued in December capital raise, net of transaction costs - value	3,709		11		3,545		153	0	0	0	3,709	0
Stock option compensation	690		0		690		0	0	0	0	690	0
Stock Option Compensation of Subsidiaries	779		0		0		0	0	0	0	0	779
Deconsolidation, Gain (Loss), Amount	(386)		0		795		0	0	0	(386)	409	(795)
Stockholders' Equity, Other	62		0		0		0	0	0	0	0	62
Exercise of options	220		1		235		(16)	0	0	0	220	0
Exercised	67,500	[2]	81,000
Balances at Dec. 31, 2010	(41,877)		(180)		(83,596)		(427)	48,431	(3,036)	(637)	(33,373)	(8,504)
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010			18,068,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	5,199		0		0		0	5,748	0	0	5,748	(549)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	29,121		0		0		0	29,661	0	0	29,661	(540)
Differences from translation of subsidiaries' financial statements	(168)		0		0		0	0	0	(152)	(152)	(16)
Dividends	(1,490)		0		(1,490)		0	0	0	0	(1,490)	0
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Dividend Reinvestment Plan	0
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Dividend Reinvestment Plan	0
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues	1
Adjustment of non-controlling interests following additional investment by the Company	0		0		600		0	0	0	0	600	(600)
Stock option compensation	406		0		406		0	0	0	0	406	0
Stock Option Compensation of Subsidiaries	176		0		0		0	0	0	0	0	176
Deconsolidation, Gain (Loss), Amount	(5,896)		0		1,193		0	0	0	0	1,193	(7,089)
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures			26,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures	101		0	[3]	101		0	0	0	0		0
Stockholders' Equity, Other	30		0		0		0	0	0	0	0	30
Exercise of options	211		3		208		0	0	0	0	211	0
Exercised	231,831	[2]	232,000
Balances at Dec. 31, 2011	(69,567)		(183)		(84,614)		(427)	13,022	(3,036)	(485)	(69,651)	84
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011			18,326,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(17,735)		0		0		0	(16,711)	0	0	(16,711)	(1,024)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0
Differences from translation of subsidiaries' financial statements	235		0		0		0	0	0	231	231
Dividends	(2,507)		0		(2,507)		0	0	0	0	(2,507)	0
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Dividend Reinvestment Plan	22,734		23,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Dividend Reinvestment Plan	175		0		175		0	0	0	0	175	0
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues	1
Adjustment of non-controlling interests following additional investment by the Company	0		0		(1,067)		0	0	0	0	(1,067)	1,067
Stock option compensation	532		0		532		0	0	0	0	532	0
Stock Option Compensation of Subsidiaries	323		0		0		0	0	0	0	0	323
Exercise of options	1,355		5		1,722		(372)	0	0	0	1,355	0
Exercised	252,453	[2]	522,000
Balances at Dec. 31, 2012	$ (51,945)		$ (188)		$ (83,469)		$ (55)	$ 29,733	$ (3,036)	$ (716)	$ (51,659)	$ (286)
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012			18,871,000

[1] Includes approximately $438 of a gain on reissuance.

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

[3] * Less than