Segment and Geographic Area Reporting - Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Segment and Geographic Area Reporting
Revenue		$ 628,814	$ 891,340	$ 701,440
Operating expenses:
Research and development		(77,226)	(113,745)	(99,579)
Selling, general and administrative		(376,110)	(422,469)	(363,929)
Impairment	$ (902,200)	(949,300)	(269,500)
Net loss attributable to Plug Power Inc.		(2,104,701)	(1,368,833)	(724,008)
Sales of equipment, related infrastructure and other
Cost of revenue:
Cost of revenue		(696,087)	(765,575)	(468,057)
Services performed on fuel cell systems and related infrastructure
Cost of revenue:
Cost of revenue		(57,766)	(75,412)	(59,365)
Power purchase agreements
Cost of revenue:
Cost of revenue		(216,947)	(218,936)	(144,696)
Fuel delivered to customers and related equipment
Cost of revenue:
Cost of revenue		(228,827)	(246,318)	(194,255)
Other costs of revenue
Cost of revenue:
Cost of revenue		(5,535)	(6,544)	(2,622)
Single Reportable Segment
Segment and Geographic Area Reporting
Revenue		628,814	891,340	701,440
Cost of revenue:
Provision for loss contracts related to service		(48,539)	(86,346)	(26,801)
Operating expenses:
Research and development		(77,226)	(113,745)	(99,579)
Selling, general and administrative		(376,110)	(422,469)	(363,929)
Impairment		(949,315)	(269,494)	(5,218)
Other segment items, net		(77,163)	(55,334)	(60,926)
Net loss attributable to Plug Power Inc.		$ (2,104,701)	$ (1,368,833)	$ (724,008)
Segment reporting, other segment item, composition, description		Included in other segment items, net are restructuring, change in fair value of contingent consideration, interest income, interest expense, other expense, net, realized loss on investments, net, change in fair value of equity securities, loss on extinguishment of convertible senior notes and debt, change in fair value of convertible senior note, loss on equity method investments, income tax benefit and net loss attributable to non-controlling interest	Included in other segment items, net are restructuring, change in fair value of contingent consideration, interest income, interest expense, other expense, net, realized loss on investments, net, change in fair value of equity securities, loss on extinguishment of convertible senior notes and debt, change in fair value of convertible senior note, loss on equity method investments, income tax benefit and net loss attributable to non-controlling interest	Included in other segment items, net are restructuring, change in fair value of contingent consideration, interest income, interest expense, other expense, net, realized loss on investments, net, change in fair value of equity securities, loss on extinguishment of convertible senior notes and debt, change in fair value of convertible senior note, loss on equity method investments, income tax benefit and net loss attributable to non-controlling interest
Single Reportable Segment | Sales of equipment, related infrastructure and other
Cost of revenue:
Cost of revenue		$ (696,087)	$ (765,575)	$ (468,057)
Single Reportable Segment | Services performed on fuel cell systems and related infrastructure
Cost of revenue:
Cost of revenue		(57,766)	(75,412)	(59,365)
Single Reportable Segment | Power purchase agreements
Cost of revenue:
Cost of revenue		(216,947)	(218,936)	(144,696)
Single Reportable Segment | Fuel delivered to customers and related equipment
Cost of revenue:
Cost of revenue		(228,827)	(246,318)	(194,255)
Single Reportable Segment | Other costs of revenue
Cost of revenue:
Cost of revenue		$ (5,535)	$ (6,544)	$ (2,622)