VIE Arrangements - Carrying Amounts and Classification of the VIEs' Assets and Liabilities Included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current assets:
Cash		$ 203,189	$ 202,525
Accounts receivable, net		111,012	112,069
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		6,488	9,202
Total current assets		459,815	468,573
Solar energy systems, net		3,285,804	3,161,570
Other assets		221,535	194,754
Total assets (1)	[1]	4,101,231	3,963,136
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		99,695	115,193
Distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests		15,134	13,583
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
Non-recourse debt, current portion		28,646	21,529
Total current liabilities		300,288	311,145
Deferred revenue, net of current portion		528,423	522,243
Deferred grants, net of current portion		225,278	227,519
Non-recourse debt, net of current portion		1,108,383	1,026,416
Other liabilities		33,340	42,743
Total liabilities (1)	[1]	2,676,479	2,598,819
Variable Interest Entities
Current assets:
Cash		144,822	118,352
Restricted cash		5,991	2,699
Accounts receivable, net		62,233	57,402
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		694	917
Total current assets		213,740	179,370
Solar energy systems, net		2,525,977	2,385,329
Other assets		6,621	3,679
Total assets (1)		2,746,338	2,568,378
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		17,575	15,929
Distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests		15,134	13,526
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		5,851	5,200
Deferred revenue, current portion		29,506	28,695
Deferred grants, current portion		1,018	1,021
Non-recourse debt, current portion		19,626	11,179
Total current liabilities		88,710	75,550
Deferred revenue, net of current portion		389,990	381,066
Deferred grants, net of current portion		29,052	29,385
Non-recourse debt, net of current portion		203,325	190,106
Other liabilities		136	1,848
Total liabilities (1)		$ 711,213	$ 677,955

[1] The Company’s consolidated assets as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 include $2,746,338 and $2,568,378, respectively, in assets of variable interest entities, or “VIEs”, that can only be used to settle obligations of the VIEs. These assets include solar energy systems, net, as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 of $2,525,977 and $2,385,329, respectively; cash as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 of $144,822 and $118,352, respectively; restricted cash as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 of $5,991 and $2,699, respectively; accounts receivable, net as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 of $62,233 and $57,402, respectively; prepaid expenses and other current assets as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 of $694 and $917, respectively and other assets as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 of $6,621 and $3,679, respectively. The Company’s consolidated liabilities as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 include $711,213 and $677,955, respectively, in liabilities of VIEs whose creditors have no recourse to the Company. These liabilities include accounts payable as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 of $17,575 thousand and $15,929 thousand, respectively; distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 of $15,134 and $13,526, respectively; accrued expenses and other liabilities as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 of $5,851 and $5,200, respectively; deferred revenue as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 of $419,496 and $409,761, respectively; deferred grants as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 of $30,070 and $30,406, respectively; and non-recourse debt as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 of $222,951 and $201,285, respectively.