Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating activities:
Net loss	$ (248,906)	$ (157,490)	$ (65,495)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Noncash losses	3,516	4,350
Depreciation and amortization, net of amortization of deferred grants	71,373	49,541	30,192
Bad debt expense	1,998	546	172
Interest on lease pass-through financing	11,959	10,204	6,437
Noncash tax benefit	(5,299)	(10,043)	(591)
Noncash interest expense	6,997	2,384	1,551
Stock-based compensation expense	15,823	9,218	2,655
Reduction in lease pass—through financing obligations	(16,780)	(12,323)	(9,573)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(15,517)	(14,075)	(954)
Inventories	(47,344)	(3,788)
Prepaid and other assets	(884)	(1,920)	(2,176)
Accounts payable	50,946	11,063	1,351
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	19,168	7,010	2,734
Deferred revenue	47,684	97,395	57,071
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(105,266)	(7,928)	23,374
Investing activities:
Payments for the costs of solar energy systems, leased and to be leased	(594,887)	(412,267)	(322,034)
Purchases of property and equipment	(13,027)	(15,317)	(3,720)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	(19,575)	(36,384)
Net cash used in investing activities	(627,489)	(463,968)	(325,754)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from grants and state tax credits, net of recapture	4,685	1,579	29,321
Proceeds from issuance of debt	544,385	192,750	148,282
Repayment of debt	(357,878)	(120,054)	(612)
Payment of debt fees	(14,798)	(7,939)	(5,493)
Proceeds from solar asset-backed notes	111,000
Repayment of solar asset-backed notes	(2,120)
Proceeds from issuance of convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs		143,393
Proceeds from lease pass-through financing obligations	129,121	174,159	64,888
Repayment of lease pass-through financing obligations	(88,918)
Contributions received from noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests	275,704	169,490	165,331
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests	(28,737)	(31,967)	(63,907)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests		(21)	(22,024)
Proceeds from exercises of stock options	3,548	2,707	1,119
Proceeds from initial public offering, net of offering costs	222,078
Payment of capital lease obligation	(4,854)	(1,181)
Change in restricted cash	(8,751)	1,435	(4,611)
Net cash provided by financing activities	784,465	524,351	312,294
Net increase in cash	51,710	52,455	9,914
Cash, beginning of period	152,154	99,699	89,785
Cash, end of period	203,864	152,154	99,699
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Cash paid for interest	11,954	11,101	3,657
Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing and financing activities
Costs of solar energy systems and property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	15,850	14,074	14,469
Distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests	8,144	6,764	$ 16,189
Vehicles acquired under capital leases	21,556	5,666
Noncash purchase consideration on acquisition of business	18,718	$ 76,964
Offering costs prepaid in prior year	760
Series D and E Preferred Shares
Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing and financing activities
Deemed dividend on Series D and E preferred shares	$ 24,890