Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	21. Subsequent Events The Company has evaluated subsequent events and transactions through the date of this filing for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements and has noted no other subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure other than as stated below: Equity Offerings and Related Matters On February 12, 2013, the Company amended its Shareholder Rights Agreement dated as of June 23, 2009, as amended, to exempt any investor from purchasing shares of common stock, so long as such investor and its affiliates and associates do not at any time beneficially own shares of our common stock equaling or exceeding one-half of one percent more than the percentage of the then outstanding shares of common stock beneficially owned by such investor and its affiliates and associates. As a result, such ownership by any such investor will not trigger the exercisability of the preferred share purchase rights under the Shareholder Rights Agreement that would give each holder the right to receive upon exercise one ten-thousandth of a share of our Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock. On February 20, 2013, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of 18,910,000 shares of common stock and accompanying warrants to purchase 18,910,000 shares of common stock. The shares and warrants were sold together as a fixed combination, with each combination consisting of one share of common stock and one warrant to purchase one share of common stock, at a price to the public of $0.15 per fixed combination for gross proceeds of approximately $2.8 million. The warrants have an exercise price of $0.15 per share, are immediately exercisable and will expire on February 20, 2018. Net proceeds, after underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated fees and expenses payable by the Company, were approximately $2.1 million. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures. In connection with the offering, the Company has granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,836,500 shares of common stock to cover over-allotments, if any. On February 21, 2013, the Company sold 2,801,800 additional shares of common stock, pursuant to the underwriter’s exercise of its over-allotment option in connection with the public offering, resulting in additional net proceeds to the Company of approximately $365,000. On May 31, 2011, the Company granted 7,128,563 warrants as part of an underwritten public offering. As a result of the March 28 and 29, 2012 public offerings and pursuant to the effect of the anti-dilution provisions, the exercise price of the warrants was reduced to $2.27 per share of common stock. Simultaneously with the adjustment to the exercise price, the number of common stock shares that may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants was increased to 9,421,008 shares. As a result of the February 20 and 21, 2013 public offerings and pursuant to the effect of the anti-dilution provisions, the exercise price of the warrants was reduced to $1.13 per share of common stock. Simultaneously with the adjustment to the exercise price, the number of common stock shares that may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants was increased to 18,925,389 shares. Building Sale-leaseback On January 24, 2013, the Company entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with 968 Albany Shaker Road Associates, LLC (the Buyer). The Purchase and Sale Agreement provides, among other things, that the Company will sell to the Buyer its property (building and land) located at 968 Albany Shaker Road, Latham, New York consisting of approximately 34.45 acres for an aggregate purchase price of $4,500,000 and that the Company and the Buyer will form a new limited liability company. The new limited liability company will provide the Company with monthly distributions. In connection with the Purchase and Sale Agreement, the Company also entered into a Lease Agreement on January 24, 2013 with the Buyer, pursuant to which the Company leases from the Buyer a portion of the premises sold pursuant to the Purchase and Sale Agreement for a term of 15 years. On March 13, 2013, the Company entered into an Amendment to Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Amendment”) with the Buyer. Among other things, the Amendment decreases the amount payable to the Company at the closing of the Purchase and Sale Agreement, increases the value of the Company’s membership interest in the new limited liability company, and increases the monthly distributions to be paid by the new limited liability company to the Company. On March 27, 2013, the Company completed the sale and leaseback transaction of its property under the terms described above. Additionally, at the closing the Company issued two standby letters of credit to the benefit of the landlord/lessor that can be drawn by the beneficiary in the event of default on the lease by Plug Power. The standby letters total $750,000 and are 100% collateralized by cash balances of the Company. This cash is restricted from use by the Company for any other purpose than to collateralize the standby letters. The standby letters are renewable for a period of ten years and can be cancelled in part or in full if certain covenants are met and maintained by the Company.

Subsequent Events

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

21. Subsequent Events

The Company has evaluated subsequent events and transactions through the date of this filing for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements and has noted no other subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure other than as stated below:

Equity Offerings and Related Matters

On February 12, 2013, the Company amended its Shareholder Rights Agreement dated as of June 23, 2009, as amended, to exempt any investor from purchasing shares of common stock, so long as such investor and its affiliates and associates do not at any time beneficially own shares of our common stock equaling or exceeding one-half of one percent more than the percentage of the then outstanding shares of common stock beneficially owned by such investor and its affiliates and associates. As a result, such ownership by any such investor will not trigger the exercisability of the preferred share purchase rights under the Shareholder Rights Agreement that would give each holder the right to receive upon exercise one ten-thousandth of a share of our Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock.

On February 20, 2013, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of 18,910,000 shares of common stock and accompanying warrants to purchase 18,910,000 shares of common stock. The shares and warrants were sold together as a fixed combination, with each combination consisting of one share of common stock and one warrant to purchase one share of common stock, at a price to the public of $0.15 per fixed combination for gross proceeds of approximately $2.8 million. The warrants have an exercise price of $0.15 per share, are immediately exercisable and will expire on February 20, 2018. Net proceeds, after underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated fees and expenses payable by the Company, were approximately $2.1 million. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures. In connection with the offering, the Company has granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,836,500 shares of common stock to cover over-allotments, if any.

On February 21, 2013, the Company sold 2,801,800 additional shares of common stock, pursuant to the underwriter’s exercise of its over-allotment option in connection with the public offering, resulting in additional net proceeds to the Company of approximately $365,000.

On May 31, 2011, the Company granted 7,128,563 warrants as part of an underwritten public offering. As a result of the March 28 and 29, 2012 public offerings and pursuant to the effect of the anti-dilution provisions, the exercise price of the warrants was reduced to $2.27 per share of common stock. Simultaneously with the adjustment to the exercise price, the number of common stock shares that may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants was increased to 9,421,008 shares. As a result of the February 20 and 21, 2013 public offerings and pursuant to the effect of the anti-dilution provisions, the exercise price of the warrants was reduced to $1.13 per share of common stock. Simultaneously with the adjustment to the exercise price, the number of common stock shares that may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants was increased to 18,925,389 shares.

Building Sale-leaseback

On January 24, 2013, the Company entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with 968 Albany Shaker Road Associates, LLC (the Buyer). The Purchase and Sale Agreement provides, among other things, that the Company will sell to the Buyer its property (building and land) located at 968 Albany Shaker Road, Latham, New York consisting of approximately 34.45 acres for an aggregate purchase price of $4,500,000 and that the Company and the Buyer will form a new limited liability company. The new limited liability company will provide the Company with monthly distributions.

In connection with the Purchase and Sale Agreement, the Company also entered into a Lease Agreement on January 24, 2013 with the Buyer, pursuant to which the Company leases from the Buyer a portion of the premises sold pursuant to the Purchase and Sale Agreement for a term of 15 years.

On March 13, 2013, the Company entered into an Amendment to Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Amendment”) with the Buyer. Among other things, the Amendment decreases the amount payable to the Company at the closing of the Purchase and Sale Agreement, increases the value of the Company’s membership interest in the new limited liability company, and increases the monthly distributions to be paid by the new limited liability company to the Company.

On March 27, 2013, the Company completed the sale and leaseback transaction of its property under the terms described above. Additionally, at the closing the Company issued two standby letters of credit to the benefit of the landlord/lessor that can be drawn by the beneficiary in the event of default on the lease by Plug Power. The standby letters total $750,000 and are 100% collateralized by cash balances of the Company. This cash is restricted from use by the Company for any other purpose than to collateralize the standby letters. The standby letters are renewable for a period of ten years and can be cancelled in part or in full if certain covenants are met and maintained by the Company.