Basis of Presentation (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of ADES are unaudited and have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("U.S. GAAP") and with Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In compliance with those instructions, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted. The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of ADES in this quarterly report ("Quarterly Report") are presented on a consolidated basis and include ADES and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company"). Also included within the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are the Company's unconsolidated equity investments, Tinuum Group and Tinuum Services, which are accounted for under the equity method of accounting, and Highview Enterprises Limited (the "Highview Investment"), which is accounted for in accordance with U.S. GAAP applicable to equity investments that do not qualify for the equity method of accounting. Results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts were eliminated in consolidation for all periods presented in this Quarterly Report. In the opinion of management, these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include all normal and recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations, financial position, stockholders' equity and cash flows for the interim periods presented. These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 (the "2022 Form 10-K"). Significant accounting policies disclosed therein have not changed.
Earnings (Loss) Per Share	Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is computed in a manner consistent with that of basic earnings per share, while considering other potentially dilutive securities. For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, potentially dilutive securities consist of unvested restricted stock awards ("RSAs") and contingent performance stock units ("PSUs"). For the three months ended March 31, 2023 potentially dilutive securities also consist of outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, which contain non-forfeitable rights to earnings and dividends in the form of cash or shares of Series A Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Dividends"), determined at the option of the Company, and are deemed to be participating securities ("Participating Securities"). As permitted, the Company has elected not to separately present basic or diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Participating Securities in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
Use of Estimates	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. There have been no changes in the Company’s critical accounting estimates from those that were disclosed in the 2022 Form 10-K. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Risks and Uncertainties	For 2023, the Company is principally dependent on the operations of its APT business and its cash on hand to provide liquidity over the near and long term. The Company's revenues, sales volumes, earnings and cash flows are significantly affected by prices of competing power generation sources such as natural gas and renewable energy. During periods of low natural gas prices, natural gas provides a competitive alternative to coal-fired power generation and therefore, coal consumption for purposes of power generation may be reduced, which in turn reduces the demand for the Company's products. However, during periods of higher prices for competing power generation sources, there is an increase in coal consumption and thus demand for the Company's products also increases. In addition, coal consumption for purposes of power generation and demand for the Company's products are affected by the demand for electricity, which is higher in the warmer and colder months of the year. As a result, the Company's interim period results are subject to seasonal variations whereby its revenues and cost of revenues tend to be higher in its first and third fiscal quarters compared to its second and fourth fiscal quarters. Abnormal temperatures during the summer and winter months may significantly affect coal consumption and impurities within various municipalities' water sources, and thus impact the demand for the Company's products.
Concentration of credit risk	The Company is exposed to concentrations of credit risk primarily related to cash held at financial institutions and accounts receivable. The Company regularly monitors its credit risk to mitigate the possibility of current and future exposures resulting in a loss. Historically, the losses related to credit risk have been immaterial. The Company evaluates the creditworthiness of its customers prior to entering into agreements to sell its products and, as necessary, throughout the life of the customer relationship. The Company holds substantially all of its cash at one financial institution as of March 31, 2023. If a financial institution was unable to perform its obligations, the Company would be at risk regarding the amount of cash and investments in excess of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation limits (currently $250 thousand) that would be returned to the Company.
Reclassifications	Certain balances have been reclassified from the prior year to conform to the current year presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on the Company’s results of operations or financial position in any of the periods presented.
New Accounting Standards	Effective January 1, 2023, the Company adopted ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326) Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments ("ASU 2016-13"). The main objective of ASU 2016-13 is to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity at each reporting date. The adoption of ASU 2016-13 did not have a material impact on the Company's financial statements and disclosures.

Basis of Presentation (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2023

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of ADES are unaudited and have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("U.S. GAAP") and with Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In compliance with those instructions, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted.

The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of ADES in this quarterly report ("Quarterly Report") are presented on a consolidated basis and include ADES and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company"). Also included within the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are the Company's unconsolidated equity investments, Tinuum Group and Tinuum Services, which are accounted for under the equity method of accounting, and Highview Enterprises Limited (the "Highview Investment"), which is accounted for in accordance with U.S. GAAP applicable to equity investments that do not qualify for the equity method of accounting.

Results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts were eliminated in consolidation for all periods presented in this Quarterly Report.

In the opinion of management, these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include all normal and recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations, financial position, stockholders' equity and cash flows for the interim periods presented. These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 (the "2022 Form 10-K"). Significant accounting policies disclosed therein have not changed.

Earnings (Loss) Per Share

Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is computed in a manner consistent with that of basic earnings per share, while considering other potentially dilutive securities. For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, potentially dilutive securities consist of unvested restricted stock awards ("RSAs") and contingent performance stock units ("PSUs"). For the three months ended March 31, 2023 potentially dilutive securities also consist of outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, which contain non-forfeitable rights to earnings and dividends in the form of cash or shares of Series A Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Dividends"), determined at the option of the Company, and are deemed to be participating securities ("Participating Securities"). As permitted, the Company has elected not to separately present basic or diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Participating Securities in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. There have been no changes in the Company’s critical accounting estimates from those that were disclosed in the 2022 Form 10-K. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Risks and Uncertainties

For 2023, the Company is principally dependent on the operations of its APT business and its cash on hand to provide liquidity over the near and long term. The Company's revenues, sales volumes, earnings and cash flows are significantly affected by prices of competing power generation sources such as natural gas and renewable energy. During periods of low natural gas prices, natural gas provides a competitive alternative to coal-fired power generation and therefore, coal consumption for purposes of power generation may be reduced, which in turn reduces the demand for the Company's products. However, during periods of higher prices for competing power generation sources, there is an increase in coal consumption and thus demand for the Company's products also increases. In addition, coal consumption for purposes of power generation and demand for the Company's products are affected by the demand for electricity, which is higher in the warmer and colder months of the year. As a result, the Company's interim period results are subject to seasonal variations whereby its revenues and cost of revenues tend to be higher in its first and third fiscal quarters compared to its second and fourth fiscal quarters. Abnormal temperatures during the summer and winter months may significantly affect coal consumption and impurities within various municipalities' water sources, and thus impact the demand for the Company's products.

Concentration of credit risk

The Company is exposed to concentrations of credit risk primarily related to cash held at financial institutions and accounts receivable. The Company regularly monitors its credit risk to mitigate the possibility of current and future exposures resulting in a loss. Historically, the losses related to credit risk have been immaterial.

The Company evaluates the creditworthiness of its customers prior to entering into agreements to sell its products and, as necessary, throughout the life of the customer relationship.

The Company holds substantially all of its cash at one financial institution as of March 31, 2023. If a financial institution was unable to perform its obligations, the Company would be at risk regarding the amount of cash and investments in excess of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation limits (currently $250 thousand) that would be returned to the Company.

Reclassifications

Certain balances have been reclassified from the prior year to conform to the current year presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on the Company’s results of operations or financial position in any of the periods presented.

New Accounting Standards

Effective January 1, 2023, the Company adopted ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326) Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments ("ASU 2016-13"). The main objective of ASU 2016-13 is to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity at each reporting date. The adoption of ASU 2016-13 did not have a material impact on the Company's financial statements and disclosures.