This element represents percentage of ownership in joint venture.

No definition available.

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of joint venture in the investee accounted for cash contribution.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	plug_PercentageOfOwnershipInJointVentureInExchangeOfCashContribution
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents percentage of ownership interest reduced from joint venture.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	plug_PercentageOfOwnershipInterestReducedFromJointVenture
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 159

-Paragraph 18

-Subparagraph f

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 18

-Paragraph 20

-Subparagraph a (1)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Period the instrument, asset or liability is expected to be outstanding, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7578670&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssumptionsExpectedTerm
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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Measure of dispersion, in percentage terms (for instance, the standard deviation or variance), for a given stock price.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Risk-free interest rate assumption used in valuing an instrument.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate
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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Basis of Presentation (Detail Textuals)	1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Basis of Presentation (Detail Textuals)	Feb. 29, 2012 Axane	May 08, 2013 Securities Purchase Agreement Subsequent Event	Feb. 20, 2013 Warrant	Mar. 31, 2013 Warrant	May 31, 2011 Warrant	Mar. 31, 2013 Warrant	Dec. 31, 2012 Warrant
Class of Warrant or Right [Line Items]
Risk-free interest rate			0.85%	0.82%	0.75%	0.33%	0.31%
Volatility of market price			102.00%	104.80%	94.40%	97.80%	73.50%
Expected average term of warrant				5 years		2 years 6 months
Percentage of contribution in the JV for by Axane	55.00%
Percentage of contribution in the JV by company	45.00%
Profits from the JV	45.00%
Percentage of ownership interest reduced from joint venture		20.00%