Convertible and Long-term Debt Obligations - Solar Loan-backed Notes - Additional Information (Detail) - SolarCity [Member] - Non-recourse debt [Member] $ in Millions	Jan. 27, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 21, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 Subsidiary
Solar Loan-backed Notes, Series 2016-A [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of wholly owned subsidiaries received remaining cash distributions | Subsidiary			1
Solar Loan-backed Notes, Series 2017-A
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of wholly owned subsidiaries received remaining cash distributions | Subsidiary			1
Class A [Member] | Solar Loan-backed Notes, Series 2016-A [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt principal issued		$ 151.6
Debt discount percentage		3.22%
Class A [Member] | Solar Loan-backed Notes, Series 2017-A
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt principal issued	$ 123.0
Debt discount percentage	1.87%
Class B [Member] | Solar Loan-backed Notes, Series 2016-A [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt principal issued		$ 33.4
Debt discount percentage		15.90%
Class B [Member] | Solar Loan-backed Notes, Series 2017-A
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt principal issued	$ 8.8
Debt discount percentage	1.86%
Class C [Member] | Solar Loan-backed Notes, Series 2017-A
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt principal issued	$ 13.2
Debt discount percentage	8.13%