Fair value of options granted

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	spi_
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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Loss on debt forgiveness

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

Amount of other increase (decrease) in additional paid in capital (APIC).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of assets, including but not limited to property plant and equipment, intangible assets and equity in securities of subsidiaries or equity method investee.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121586364&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from the issuance of common stock, preferred stock, treasury stock, stock options, and other types of equity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121586364&loc=d3e3255-108585

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Net number of share options (or share units) granted during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(iv)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120381028&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	srt_CounterpartyNameAxis=spi_LightingCharmMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_CounterpartyNameAxis=spi_SRIIMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_CounterpartyNameAxis=spi_SRVMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis=spi_SPIChinaMember
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4. Disposition (Details Narrative) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
4. Disposition (Details Narrative) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Lighting Charm [Member]
Options granted			1,000,000
Fair value of options granted			$ 1,260
SR II [Member]
Sale of shares		$ 2,802
Gain loss on disposal		(481)
SR V [Member]
Sale of shares		2,014
Gain loss on disposal		$ 96
SR I [Member]
Gain loss on disposal	$ (32)
Discontinued Operations [Member] \| SPI China [Member]
Additional paid in capital for excess of SPI China's book value of liabilities over assets			107,867
Loss on debt forgiveness			$ 536