Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation - The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and include all adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Solazyme Bunge JV is a variable interest entity ("VIE") that is 50.1% owned by the Company and 49.9% owned by Bunge. The Company determined that it was not required to consolidate the 50.1% ownership in this joint venture and, therefore, accounts for this joint venture under the equity method of accounting (see Note 12). The Company owns 19.9% of Algenist Holdings, Inc. which is accounted for under the equity method of accounting (see Note 3). The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments of a normal recurring nature considered necessary to present fairly the Company’s interim financial information. Certain reclassifications and changes in presentation were made to the 2015 condensed consolidated financial statements to conform to the 2016 presentation. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2016, or for other interim periods or future years. These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, as filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 15, 2016. The December 31, 2015 unaudited interim condensed consolidated balance sheet included herein was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of that date, but does not include all disclosures, including notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards And Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recently Adopted Accounting Standards — In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. The standard amends existing guidance to require the presentation of debt issuance costs in the balance sheet as a deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability instead of as an asset. The Company adopted ASU 2015-03 retrospectively in its fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2016. As a result of the retrospective adoption, the Company reclassified unamortized debt issuance costs of $0.5 million from other long-term assets to a reduction in convertible debt on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015. Recent Accounting Pronouncements—In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”), which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in FASB ASC 605, Revenue Recognition. ASU 2014-09 is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. In addition, in March and April 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and ASU No. 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which clarify the guidance in ASU 2014-09 and have the same effective date as the original standard. This guidance requires the recognition of revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration expected in exchange for those goods or services. In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-12, Narrow Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients, which provides for improvements to the guidance on collectability, noncash consideration and completed contracts, and provides a practical expedient for contract modifications upon adoption of the updated guidance under ASC 606. This new guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and early adoption is permitted, but not before December 15, 2016, and are required to be adopted by taking either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently assessing the potential impact of this new guidance on its consolidated financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) which, for operating leases, requires a lessee to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability, initially measured at the present value of the lease payments, in its balance sheet. The standard also requires a lessee to recognize a single lease cost, calculated so that the cost of the lease is allocated over the lease term, on a generally straight-line basis. The ASU is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of this new guidance on its consolidated financial statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation, Stock Compensation (Topic 718), a new standard simplifying certain aspects of accounting for share-based payments. The key provision of the new standard requires that excess tax benefits and shortfalls be recorded as income tax benefit or expense in the income statement, rather than in equity. The ASU is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of this new guidance on its consolidated financial statements.