Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Adoption of Topic 606 and ASC 842, Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts	$ 111,012	$ 112,069
Solar energy systems, net	3,285,804	3,161,570
Other assets	221,535	194,754
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	92,793	97,230
Deferred revenue, current portion	43,659	42,609
Deferred grants, current portion	8,185	8,193
Pass-through financing obligation, current portion	5,439	5,387
Deferred revenue, net of current portion	528,423	522,243
Deferred grants, net of current portion	225,278	227,519
Pass-through financing obligation, net of current portion	132,848	132,823
Other liabilities	33,340	42,743
Deferred tax liabilities	96,481	83,119
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	133,524	123,801
Additional paid-in capital	693,077	682,950
Retained earnings	230,766	202,734
Noncontrolling interests	$ 356,549	358,934
Previously Reported
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts		76,198
Solar energy systems, net		3,319,708
Other assets		37,225
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		85,639
Deferred revenue, current portion		77,310
Deferred grants, current portion		8,269
Pass-through financing obligation, current portion		6,087
Deferred revenue, net of current portion		584,427
Deferred grants, net of current portion		228,603
Pass-through financing obligation, net of current portion		138,124
Other liabilities		13,520
Deferred tax liabilities		59,131
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		123,737
Additional paid-in capital		684,141
Retained earnings		131,959
Noncontrolling interests		354,076
Adoption Impact | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 and ASC 842
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts		35,871
Solar energy systems, net		(158,138)
Other assets		157,529
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		11,591
Deferred revenue, current portion		(34,701)
Deferred grants, current portion		(76)
Pass-through financing obligation, current portion		(700)
Deferred revenue, net of current portion		(62,184)
Deferred grants, net of current portion		(1,084)
Pass-through financing obligation, net of current portion		(5,301)
Other liabilities		29,223
Deferred tax liabilities		23,988
Redeemable noncontrolling interests		64
Additional paid-in capital		(1,191)
Retained earnings		70,775
Noncontrolling interests		$ 4,858