Commitments and Contingencies - Operating Leases (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Future minimum lease payments under noncancellable operating leases - As Lessor
Remainder of 2020	$ 15,567		$ 15,567
2021	30,958		30,958
2022	27,338		27,338
2023	24,284		24,284
2024	20,902		20,902
2025 and thereafter	36,861		36,861
Total future minimum lease payments	155,910		155,910
Future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases - As Lessee
Remainder of 2020	25,947		25,947
2021	51,818		51,818
2022	51,267		51,267
2023	45,461		45,461
2024	45,410		45,410
2025 and thereafter	52,344		52,344
Total future minimum lease payments	272,247		272,247
Less imputed lease interest	(73,820)		(73,820)
Sale of future services	129,209		129,209
Total lease liabilities	$ 327,636		$ 327,636
Operating Lease, Liability, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	plug:FinancingTransactionFinanceObligationAmountCurrent plug:FinancingTransactionFinanceObligationAmount		plug:FinancingTransactionFinanceObligationAmountCurrent plug:FinancingTransactionFinanceObligationAmount
Rental expense for all operating lease	$ 12,900	$ 6,200	$ 25,500	$ 12,100
Gross profit on sale leaseback transactions	14,400	16,100	19,700	16,100
Right of use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities	29,200	$ 34,500	45,400	34,500
Prepaid rent and security deposit	$ 6,000		6,000		$ 6,000
Other information of operating leases
Cash payments			$ 24,982	$ 11,677
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years)	5 years 5 months 23 days	5 years 1 month 17 days	5 years 5 months 23 days	5 years 1 month 17 days
Weighted average discount rate (as a percent)	12.10%	12.20%	12.10%	12.20%
Minimum
Operating Leases
Lease Term - as Lessor	1 year		1 year
Lease Term - as Lessee	1 year		1 year
Maximum
Operating Leases
Lease Term - as Lessor	7 years		7 years
Lease Term - as Lessee	8 years		8 years
Sale Leaseback Agreements
Future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases - As Lessee
Total lease liabilities	$ 129,200		$ 129,200		35,600
Short term operating lease obligation	19,600		19,600		6,000
Long term operating lease obligation	$ 109,600		$ 109,600		$ 29,600