Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt, classified as current. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs of long-term debt classified as noncurrent and excluding amounts to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=aqunf_CanadianDollarSeniorUnsecuredNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=aqunf_CanadianDollarSeniorSecuredProjectsNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=aqunf_U.SDollarSeniorUnsecuredNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=aqunf_U.S.DollarSeniorUnsecuredUtilityNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=aqunf_U.S.DollarSeniorUnsecuredUtilityBondsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=aqunf_SeniorUnsecuredRevolvingCreditFacilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=aqunf_SeniorUnsecuredBankCreditFacilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Long-term debt - Schedule of Long-term Debt (Detail)	Dec. 31, 2016 CAD	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 CAD
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Less: current portion	CAD (10,075,000)		CAD (8,945,000)
Long-term debt, excluding current portion	3,903,340,000		1,477,850,000
Senior Unsecured Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	3,913,415,000		1,486,795,000
Less: current portion	(10,075,000)		(8,945,000)
Long-term debt, excluding current portion	CAD 3,903,340,000		1,477,850,000
Senior Unsecured Notes \| Canadian Dollar Senior Unsecured Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average coupon	4.99%	4.99%
Par value	CAD 490,000,000
Long-term debt	CAD 487,389,000		481,991,000
Senior Unsecured Notes \| Canadian Dollar Senior Secured Project Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average coupon	10.29%	10.29%
Par value	CAD 35,600,000
Long-term debt	CAD 35,600,000		37,347,000
Senior Unsecured Notes \| U.S. Dollar Senior Unsecured Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average coupon	4.16%	4.16%
Par value \| $		$ 525,000,000
Long-term debt	CAD 700,600,000		721,581,000
Senior Unsecured Notes \| U.S. Dollar Senior Unsecured Utility Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average coupon	5.68%	5.68%
Par value \| $		$ 130,709,000
Long-term debt	CAD 174,206,000		186,446,000
Senior Unsecured Notes \| U.S Dollar Senior Secured Utility Bonds
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average coupon	6.97%	6.97%
Par value \| $		$ 83,500,000
Long-term debt	CAD 132,551,000		32,130,000
Revolving Credit Facility \| Senior Unsecured Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average coupon	0.00%	0.00%
Revolving Credit Facility \| Senior Unsecured Notes \| Senior Unsecured Revolving Credit Facilities
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	CAD 242,947,000		27,300,000
Revolving Credit Facility \| Senior Unsecured Notes \| Senior Unsecured Bank Credit Facilities
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	CAD 2,140,122,000		CAD 0