Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Procedures - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Highly liquid investments maturities period		three months or less
Short-term investments	$ 138,311,000	$ 11,311,000	$ 138,311,000
Gross unrealized gains or losses	0	0	0	$ 0
Gross realized gains or losses		0	0	0
Past due customer notes receivable	0	0	0
Non-accrual customer notes receivable	0	0	0
Accrued and other current liabilities	152,408,000	$ 270,184,000	152,408,000
Operating lease description		The Company accounts for the leases in accordance with ASC 840, Leases. To determine lease classification, the Company evaluates lease terms to determine whether there is a transfer of ownership or bargain purchase option at the end of the lease, whether the lease term is greater than 75% of the useful life, or whether the present value of minimum lease payments exceed 90% of the fair value at lease inception.
Minimum percentage of useful life for lease term		75.00%
Percentage of minimum lease payment of fair value		90.00%
Impairment charges		$ 0	0	0
Liability recorded relating to guarantees	1,600,000	3,100,000	1,600,000
Deferred U.S. Treasury grant income, net of current portion	397,500,000	382,300,000	397,500,000
Current deferred investment tax credits revenue	47,900,000	51,800,000	47,900,000
Noncurrent deferred investment tax credits revenue	163,000,000	130,800,000	163,000,000
Operating leases and solar energy systems incentives		293,543,000	173,636,000	82,856,000
Deferred revenue	33,651,000	452,797,000	33,651,000
Current portion of deferred revenue	86,238,000	103,078,000	86,238,000
Deferred revenue, net of current portion	557,408,000	1,010,491,000	557,408,000
Recognized losses on contracts		8,000,000	2,100,000	2,900,000
Costs in excess of billings	300,000	200,000	300,000
Billings in excess of costs	200,000	500,000	200,000
Rebates and incentives recognized within operating leases and incentive revenue		34,300,000	33,400,000	26,600,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	50,946,000	79,925,000	50,946,000
Advertising costs		$ 28,600,000	3,400,000	500,000
Percentage of tax benefit realized upon ultimate settlement		50.00%
Monetization Of Income Tax Credits [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Operating leases and solar energy systems incentives		$ 47,900,000	28,200,000	$ 500,000
Customer payments [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	229,500,000	289,300,000	229,500,000
Rebates and incentives [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	169,600,000	186,100,000	169,600,000
My Power Customer Notes Receivable
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Current portion of deferred revenue	0	$ 2,800,000	0
U.S. Treasury grants [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives		30 years
MyPower Program [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Company generally provides a warranty on the generating and non-generating parts of the solar energy systems		10 to 30 years
Current portion of deferred revenue	1,000,000	$ 4,600,000	1,000,000
Deferred revenue, net of current portion	32,700,000	448,200,000	32,700,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	400,000	$ 2,100,000	400,000
Manufacturer [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Company generally provides a warranty on the generating and non-generating parts of the solar energy systems		one to 25 years
Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Property and equipment, Useful Lives		7 years
Level 3 [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Accrued and other current liabilities	42,000,000	$ 42,900,000	42,000,000
Other liabilities and deferred credits	$ 75,200,000	$ 80,100,000	$ 75,200,000
Minimum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Probability of Default		90.00%	90.00%
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate		5.00%	5.00%
Estimated useful lives		1 year
Minimum [Member] | Internal-use software [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives		5 years
Maximum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Probability of Default		95.00%	95.00%
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate		7.00%	7.00%
Property and equipment, Useful Lives		30 years
Estimated useful lives		30 years
Maximum [Member] | Internal-use software [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives		10 years
Solar Energy Systems [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Purchase of solar energy systems through loan	30 years
Corporate Debt Securities [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Short-term investments	$ 126,200,000	$ 9,300,000	$ 126,200,000
Asset- backed Securities [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Short-term investments	$ 12,100,000	$ 2,000,000	$ 12,100,000