Project assets (Notes)	9 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2015
Project assets [Abstract]
Project assets [Text Block]	Project Assets Project assets as of July 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014 were $11.6 million and $0.8 million, respectively. Project assets consist primarily of costs relating to our fuel cell projects in various stages of development that we capitalize prior to entering into a definitive sales or long-term financing agreement for the project. These projects are actively being marketed and intended to be sold, although we may choose to retain ownership of one or more of these projects after they become operational if we determine it would be of economic and strategic benefit. Project asset costs include costs for developing and constructing a complete turn-key fuel cell project. Development costs can include legal, consulting, permitting, interconnect, and other similar costs. Once we enter into a definitive sales agreement we expense project assets to cost of sales after the respective project asset is sold to a customer and all revenue recognition criteria have been met. We classify project assets as current if the expected commercial operation date is less than twelve months and long-term if it is greater than twelve months from the balance sheet date. All project assets are currently held for sale, however, should the Company elect to retain a project asset, it will be classified as long-term upon such election. We review project assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

Project Assets

Project assets as of July 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014 were $11.6 million and $0.8 million, respectively. Project assets consist primarily of costs relating to our fuel cell projects in various stages of development that we capitalize prior to entering into a definitive sales or long-term financing agreement for the project. These projects are actively being marketed and intended to be sold, although we may choose to retain ownership of one or more of these projects after they become operational if we determine it would be of economic and strategic benefit. Project asset costs include costs for developing and constructing a complete turn-key fuel cell project. Development costs can include legal, consulting, permitting, interconnect, and other similar costs. Once we enter into a definitive sales agreement we expense project assets to cost of sales after the respective project asset is sold to a customer and all revenue recognition criteria have been met. We classify project assets as current if the expected commercial operation date is less than twelve months and long-term if it is greater than twelve months from the balance sheet date. All project assets are currently held for sale, however, should the Company elect to retain a project asset, it will be classified as long-term upon such election. We review project assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.