Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenue:
Operating leases and solar energy systems incentives	$ 293,543	$ 173,636	$ 82,856
Solar energy systems and components sales	106,076	81,395	80,981
Total revenue	399,619	255,031	163,837
Cost of revenue:
Operating leases and solar energy systems incentives	165,546	92,920	32,745
Solar energy systems and components sales	115,245	83,512	91,723
Total cost of revenue	280,791	176,432	124,468
Gross profit	118,828	78,599	39,369
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing	457,185	238,608	97,426
General and administrative	244,508	156,426	89,801
Research and development	64,925	19,162	1,520
Total operating expenses	766,618	414,196	188,747
Loss from operations	(647,790)	(335,597)	(149,378)
Interest expense - net	91,939	55,758	25,738
Other expense - net	25,767	10,611	1,441
Loss before income taxes	(765,496)	(401,966)	(176,557)
Income tax (provision) benefit	(3,326)	26,736	24,799
Net loss	(768,822)	(375,230)	(151,758)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests	(710,492)	(319,196)	(95,968)
Net loss attributable to stockholders	(58,330)	(56,034)	(55,790)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders
Basic	(58,330)	(56,034)	(55,790)
Diluted	$ (58,330)	$ (56,034)	$ (55,790)
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders
Basic	$ (0.60)	$ (0.60)	$ (0.70)
Diluted	$ (0.60)	$ (0.60)	$ (0.70)
Weighted-average shares used to compute net loss per share attributable to common stockholders
Basic	97,200,925	93,333,880	79,781,976
Diluted	97,200,925	93,333,880	79,781,976