Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenue:
Operating leases and solar energy systems incentives	$ 422,326	$ 293,543	$ 173,636
Solar energy systems and components sales	308,016	106,076	81,395
Total revenue	730,342	399,619	255,031
Cost of revenue:
Operating leases and solar energy systems incentives	253,653	165,546	92,920
Solar energy systems and components sales	225,269	115,245	83,512
Total cost of revenue	478,922	280,791	176,432
Gross profit	251,420	118,828	78,599
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing	442,590	457,185	238,608
General and administrative	228,980	244,508	156,426
Pre-production expense	69,306
Restructuring and other	105,922
Research and development	54,963	64,925	19,162
Total operating expenses	901,761	766,618	414,196
Loss from operations	(650,341)	(647,790)	(335,597)
Interest and other expenses:
Interest expense – recourse debt	42,162	28,145	14,522
Interest expense – non-recourse debt	74,527	29,905	13,537
Other interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees, net	39,965	33,889	27,699
Other expense, net	13,660	25,767	10,611
Total interest and other expenses	170,314	117,706	66,369
Loss before income taxes	(820,655)	(765,496)	(401,966)
Income tax benefit (provision)	308	(3,326)	26,736
Net loss	(820,347)	(768,822)	(375,230)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests	(1,059,121)	(710,492)	(319,196)
Net income (loss) attributable to parent	$ 238,774	$ (58,330)	$ (56,034)