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Nature of business and operations - Narrative (Details) (USD $)
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0 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | |||||||||||||
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May 11, 2009
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Sep. 30, 2013
Segment
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Dec. 31, 2012
Segment
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Mar. 25, 2013
Scenario, Forecast [Member]
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Mar. 25, 2013
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
Conversion of Principal Amount [Member]
Convertible Unsecured Debt [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2012
Chief Executive Officer (John N. Hatsopoulos)
Scenario, Forecast [Member]
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May 11, 2009
Ilios
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May 04, 2009
Ilios
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Sep. 30, 2013
Ilios
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Dec. 31, 2012
Ilios
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Dec. 31, 2011
Ilios
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Dec. 31, 2010
Ilios
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Jan. 19, 2012
Ilios
Private placement to accredited investors
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Jul. 24, 2009
Ilios
Private placement to accredited investors
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Dec. 31, 2012
Ilios
Private placement to accredited investors
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Dec. 28, 2012
Ilios
Private placement to Tecogen
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Dec. 29, 2011
Ilios
Private placement to Tecogen
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Jun. 03, 2011
Ilios
Private placement to Tecogen
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Dec. 31, 2012
Ilios
Private placement to Tecogen
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Dec. 31, 2011
Ilios
Private placement to Tecogen
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| Sale of Stock By Subsidiary [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Investment in subsidiary | $ 8,400 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Number of shares of subsidiary common stock received by the Company | 8,400,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Number of shares of subsidiary common stock sold by the Company | 1,400,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Subsidiary common stock sold by the Company, price in usd per share | $ 0.50 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Number of stockholders who purchased the subsidiary shares | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Extinguishment of demand notes payable, convertible debentures and accrued interest | 700,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Subsidiary sale of stock, shares | 1,000,000 | 2,710,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 500,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Subsidiary sale of stock, price in usd per share | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | |||||||||||||
| Proceeds received by subsidiary for issuance of stock | 500,000 | 1,352,500 | 500,000 | 500,000 | 250,000 | |||||||||||||||
| The Company's ownership percentage in subsidiary | 65.00% | 65.00% | 65.00% | 67.40% | 63.00% | |||||||||||||||
| Number of Operating Segments | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity | $ 1,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period | 1.50% | |||||||||||||||||||
| Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date | Mar. 31, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||