VIE Arrangements - Carrying Amounts and Classification of the VIEs' Assets and Liabilities Included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets:
Cash		$ 203,864	$ 152,154	$ 99,699	$ 89,785
Restricted cash		9,203	2,534
Accounts receivable, net		60,275	43,189
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		6,696	9,560
Total current assets		360,494	236,534
Restricted cash		8,094	6,012
Solar energy systems, net		1,992,021	1,484,251
Total assets	[1]	2,738,146	1,932,584
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		104,133	51,166
Distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests		8,144	6,764
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		49,146	25,445
Deferred revenue, current portion		59,726	44,398
Deferred grants, current portion		13,949	13,754
Long-term debt, current portion		5,408	2,602
Total current liabilities		253,167	150,883
Deferred revenue, net of current portion		559,066	467,726
Deferred grants, net of current portion		220,784	226,801
Long term debt, Noncurrent		532,910	236,649
Total liabilities	[1]	1,931,447	1,380,017
Variable Interest Entities
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
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		11,025	9,057
Distributions 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, Noncurrent		29,580	31,945
Total liabilities		$ 540,464	$ 474,348

[1] The Company’s consolidated assets as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 include $1,363,615 and $986,878, respectively, in assets of variable interest entities, or VIEs, that can only be used to settle obligations of the VIEs. Solar energy systems, net, as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 were $1,305,420 and $942,655, respectively; cash as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 were $44,407 and $29,099, respectively; restricted cash as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 were $757 and $593, respectively; accounts receivable, net as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 were $12,965 and $14,351; respectively; prepaid expenses and other current assets as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 were $66 and $180, respectively. The Company’s consolidated liabilities as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 include $540,464 and $474,348, respectively, in liabilities of VIEs whose creditors have no recourse to the Company. These liabilities include accounts payable as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 of $11,025 and $9,057, respectively; distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 of $8,063 and $6,426, respectively; accrued expenses and other liabilities as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 of $175 and $340, respectively; deferred revenue as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 of $374,736 and $301,792, respectively; deferred grants as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 of $115,726 and $123,351, respectively; and long-term debt as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 of $30,739 and $33,382, respectively.