STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY (DEFICIT) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]	Equity (Deficit) Attributable to Shareholders of SPI Energy Co [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Beginning balance, value at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 1	$ 601,319	$ (570,126)	$ (35,115)	$ (3,921)	$ 3,991	$ 70
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2018	7,914,125
Net loss			(15,258)		(15,258)	110	(15,148)
Foreign currency translation losses				(412)	(412)	(179)	(591)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest		2,278			2,278	(1,213)	1,065
Forgiveness of payable to SPI China (HK) Limited		652			652		652
Issuance of ordinary shares		7,656			7,656		7,656
Issuance of ordinary shares, shares	6,600,000
Exercise of share options		516			516		516
Exercise of share options, shares	107,000
Stock based compensation		305			305		305
Ending balance, value at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 1	612,726	(585,384)	(35,527)	(8,184)	2,709	(5,475)
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2019	14,621,125
Net loss			(6,515)		(6,515)	250	(6,265)
Foreign currency translation losses				2,580	2,580	(79)	2,501
Capital contributions from noncontrolling interest						249	249
Issuance of ordinary shares for acquisition of Phoenix		9,033			9,033		9,033
Issuance of ordinary shares for acquisition of Phoenix, shares	934,720
Issuance of ordinary shares in offering	$ 1	46,809			46,810		46,810
Issuance of ordinary shares in offering, shares	6,459,000
Redemption of convertible bond to ordinary shares		443			443		443
Redemption of convertible bond to ordinary shares, shares	216,344
Forgiveness of payable to SPI China (HK) Limited		378			378		378
Exercise of share options		397			397		397
Exercise of share options, shares	109,500
Stock based compensation		315			315		315
Ending balance, value at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 2	670,101	(591,899)	(32,947)	45,257	3,129	48,386
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2020	22,340,689
Net loss			(45,491)		(45,491)	657	(44,834)
Foreign currency translation losses				(2,310)	(2,310)	(265)	(2,575)
Issuance of ordinary shares for acquisition of Phoenix
Issuance of ordinary shares for acquisition of Phoenix, shares	71,327
Issuance of ordinary shares in offering	$ 1	13,591			13,592		13,592
Issuance of ordinary shares in offering, shares	1,365,375
Redemption of convertible bond to ordinary shares, shares	1,075,169
Stock based compensation		4			4,593		4,593
Exercise of employee share option		91			91		91
Exercise of employee share option, shares	25,000
Exercise of share option of Lighting Charm Limited		1,092			1,092		1,092
Exercise of share option of Lighting Charm Limited, shares	285,500
Issuance of ordinary shares for purchasing services		34			34		34
Issuance of ordinary shares for purchasing services, shares	5,000
Issuance of restricted stock units to employees		1,196			1,196		1,196
Issuance of restricted stock units to employees, shares	184,000
Redemption of convertible debt with shares		4,375			4,375		4,375
Ending balance, value at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 3	$ 695,073	$ (637,390)	$ (35,257)	$ 22,429	$ 3,521	$ 25,950
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2021	25,352,060