VIE Arrangements - Carrying Amounts and Classification of the VIEs' Assets and Liabilities Included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Current assets:
Cash		$ 207,220	$ 203,864	$ 116,610	$ 152,154
Restricted cash		10,037	9,203
Accounts receivable, net		56,572	60,275
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		12,380	5,917
Total current assets		374,416	359,715
Solar energy systems, net		2,282,729	1,992,021
Total assets	[1]	3,136,844	2,734,592
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		93,681	104,133
Distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests		8,515	8,144
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		52,015	49,146
Deferred revenue, current portion		65,745	59,726
Deferred grants, current portion		14,383	13,949
Long-term non-recourse debt, current portion		6,368	4,722
Total current liabilities		256,379	252,481
Deferred revenue, net of current portion		579,590	559,066
Deferred grants, net of current portion		212,768	220,784
Long-term non-recourse debt, net of current portion		505,918	333,042
Total liabilities	[1]	2,244,670	1,927,893
Variable Interest Entities
Current assets:
Cash		53,415	44,407
Restricted cash		283	757
Accounts receivable, net		18,627	12,965
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		47	66
Total current assets		72,372	58,195
Solar energy systems, net		1,579,222	1,305,420
Total assets		1,651,594	1,363,615
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		11,045	11,025
Distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests		8,465	8,063
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		86	175
Deferred revenue, current portion		22,706	21,344
Deferred grants, current portion		7,192	7,198
Long-term non-recourse debt, current portion		1,247	1,159
Total current liabilities		50,741	48,964
Deferred revenue, net of current portion		375,377	353,392
Deferred grants, net of current portion		104,843	108,528
Long-term non-recourse debt, net of current portion		28,350	29,580
Total liabilities		$ 559,311	$ 540,464

[1] The Company’s consolidated assets as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include $1,651,594 and $1,363,615, 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 June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were $1,579,222 and $1,305,420, respectively; cash as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were $53,415 and $44,407, respectively; restricted cash as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were $283 and $757, respectively; accounts receivable, net as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were $18,627 and $12,965, respectively; and prepaid expenses and other current assets as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were $47 and $66, respectively. The Company’s consolidated liabilities as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 include $559,311 and $540,464, respectively, in liabilities of VIEs whose creditors have no recourse to the Company. These liabilities include accounts payable as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 of $11,045 and $11,025, respectively; distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 of $8,465 and $8,063, respectively; accrued expenses and other liabilities as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 of $86 and $175, respectively; deferred revenue as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 of $398,083 and $374,736, respectively; deferred grants as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 of $112,035 and $115,726, respectively; and long-term non-recourse debt as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 of $29,597 and $30,739, respectively.