Note 5 - Property, Plant and Equipment - Property, Plant and Equipment by Classification (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Property, plant, and equipment, gross	$ 111,681	$ 111,640
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(42,917)	(41,271)
Property, plant and equipment, net	68,764	70,369
Construction in Progress [Member]
Property, plant, and equipment, gross	507	479
Machinery and Equipment [Member]
Property, plant, and equipment, gross	$ 16,285	16,284
Property, plant and equipment, useful life (Year)	10 years
Site Improvement [Member]
Property, plant, and equipment, gross	$ 7,051	7,051
Property, plant and equipment, useful life (Year)	10 years
Retrofit Assets [Member]
Property, plant, and equipment, gross	$ 70,842	70,842
Property, plant and equipment, useful life (Year)	20 years
Lab Equipment, Furniture and Fixtures, and Vehicles [Member]
Property, plant, and equipment, gross	$ 6,513	6,513
Property, plant and equipment, useful life (Year)	5 years
Demonstration Plant [Member]
Property, plant, and equipment, gross	$ 3,597	3,597
Property, plant and equipment, useful life (Year)	2 years
Building [Member]
Property, plant, and equipment, gross	$ 2,543	2,543
Property, plant and equipment, useful life (Year)	10 years
Computer, Office Equipment, and Software [Member]
Property, plant, and equipment, gross	$ 1,807	1,795
Property, plant and equipment, useful life (Year)	3 years
Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Property, plant, and equipment, gross	$ 2,536	$ 2,536
Leasehold Improvements [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life (Year)	2 years
Leasehold Improvements [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life (Year)	5 years

Amount of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization for physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services.

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Amount before accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.

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Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

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