VIE Arrangements (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Variable Interest Entity Disclosure [Abstract]

Carrying Amounts and Classification of the VIEs' Assets and Liabilities Included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets

The carrying amounts and classification of the VIEs’ assets and liabilities included in the consolidated balance sheets are as follows (in thousands):

	December 31,
	2015		2014
Assets
Current assets
Cash	$	44,407	$	29,099
Restricted cash		757		228
Accounts receivable, net		12,965		14,351
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		66		180
Total current assets		58,195		43,858
Restricted cash	$	—	$	365
Solar energy systems, net		1,305,420		942,655
Total Assets	$	1,363,615	$	986,878

Liabilities
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	$	11,025	$	9,057
Distribution payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests		8,063		6,426
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		175		340
Deferred revenue, current portion		21,344		16,991
Deferred grants, current portion		7,198		7,225
Long-term debt, current portion		1,159		1,437
Total current liabilities		48,964		41,476
Deferred revenue, net of current portion		353,392		284,801
Deferred grants, net of current portion		108,528		116,126
Long-term debt, net of current portion		29,580	$	31,945
Total liabilities	$	540,464	$	474,348

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of the significant judgments and assumptions made in determining whether a variable interest (as defined) held by the entity requires the variable interest entity (VIE) (as defined) to be consolidated and (or) disclose information about its involvement with the VIE, individually or in aggregate (as applicable); the nature of restrictions, if any, on the consolidated VIE's assets and on the settlement of its liabilities reported by an entity in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets and liabilities; the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with involvement in the VIE; how involvement with the VIE affects the entity's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows; the lack of recourse if creditors (or beneficial interest holders) of the consolidated VIE have no recourse to the general credit of the primary beneficiary (if applicable); the terms of arrangements, giving consideration to both explicit arrangements and implicit variable interests, if any, that could require the entity to provide financial support to the VIE, including events or circumstances that could expose the entity to a loss; the methodology used by the entity for determining whether or not it is the primary beneficiary of the variable interest entity; the significant factors considered and judgments made in determining that the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance are shared (as defined); the carrying amounts and classification of assets and liabilities of the VIE included in the statement of financial position; the entity's maximum exposure to loss, if any, as a result of its involvement with the VIE, including how the maximum exposure is determined and significant sources of the entity's exposure to the VIE; a comparison of the carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities and the entity's maximum exposure to loss; information about any liquidity arrangements, guarantees, and (or) other commitments by third parties that may affect the fair value or risk of the entity's variable interest in the VIE; whether or not the entity has provided financial support or other support (explicitly or implicitly) to the VIE that it was not previously contractually required to provide or whether the entity intends to provide that support, including the type and amount of the support and the primary reasons for providing the support; and supplemental information the entity determines necessary to provide.

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