Note 14 - Segments - Information on Business Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Total revenues		$ 192	$ 6,110	$ 5,005	$ 17,599
Loss from operations		(6,103)	(8,003)	(19,336)	(20,124)
Interest expense		473	605	1,559	2,127
Depreciation and amortization		1,476	1,628	4,754	4,849
Acquisitions of plant, property and equipment		106	781	1,404	4,924
Assets	[1]	153,487		153,487		$ 93,359
UNITED STATES
Total revenues		12	5,560	3,853	16,218
Non-US [Member]
Total revenues		180	550	1,152	1,381
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Assets	[2]	(133,065)		(133,065)		(141,851)
Gevo [Member]
Total revenues		176	550	1,198	1,381
Loss from operations		(3,831)	(3,830)	(9,896)	(9,463)
Interest expense		465	605	1,546	2,127
Depreciation and amortization		53	50	159	152
Acquisitions of plant, property and equipment				79	62
Gevo [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Assets		152,762		152,762		91,861
Gevo Development / Agri-Energy [Member]
Total revenues		16	5,560	3,807	16,218
Loss from operations		(2,272)	(4,173)	(9,440)	(10,661)
Interest expense		8		13
Depreciation and amortization		1,423	1,578	4,595	4,697
Acquisitions of plant, property and equipment		106	$ 781	1,325	$ 4,862
Gevo Development / Agri-Energy [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Assets		$ 133,790		$ 133,790		$ 143,349

[1] All other significant non-cash items relate to the activities of Gevo.

[2] Includes intercompany sales of $0.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 for hydrocarbon sales.