Pass-through Financing Obligations - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Initial lease term	20 years
Solar energy systems, gross	$ 3,808,879	$ 3,441,797
Depreciation on lease	$ 463,983	399,280
Discount on expected remaining lease payments	5.00%
Solar energy systems under lease pass-through fund arrangements
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Initial lease term	20 years
Solar energy systems, gross	$ 499,400	464,200
Depreciation on lease	$ 71,900	$ 63,700
Minimum | Solar energy systems under lease pass-through fund arrangements
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Initial lease term	20 years
Maximum | Solar energy systems under lease pass-through fund arrangements
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Initial lease term	25 years