Business Combinations - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 03, 2017	Nov. 21, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017
Grohmann Engineering GmbH [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition date						Jan. 03, 2017
Cash payment for acquisition	$ 109,500
Business acquisition incentive compensation to employees payable	$ 25,800
Business combination, incentive compensation arrangement employee service period						36 months
Business acquisition, compensation expense				$ 25,800
SolarCity [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition date						Nov. 21, 2016
Business combination, common stock conversion basis		each issued and outstanding share of SolarCity common stock was converted into 0.110 (the “Exchange Ratio”) shares of our common stock.
Business combination, stock conversion ratio of shares		0.11%
Stock-based compensation expense		$ 95,900
Business acquisition transaction costs		21,700
Recognized gain on acquisition		$ 30,981			$ 88,700
Adjustment to MyPower customer notes receivable, net of current portion						$ 11,600
Adjustment to accrued liabilities						$ 46,200
Net revenues from acquisition date			$ 84,100
Operating loss from acquisition date			$ 68,200