Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenue:
Operating leases and incentives	$ 168,417	$ 118,004	$ 84,006
Solar energy systems and product sales	285,481	186,602	114,551
Total revenue	453,898	304,606	198,557
Operating expenses:
Cost of operating leases and incentives	159,858	111,784	72,898
Cost of solar energy systems and product sales	239,381	168,751	100,802
Sales and marketing	162,781	145,477	78,723
Research and development	10,199	9,657	8,386
General and administrative	92,377	84,442	68,098
Amortization of intangible assets	4,206	3,695	2,269
Total operating expenses	668,802	523,806	331,176
Loss from operations	(214,904)	(219,200)	(132,619)
Interest expense, net	53,244	33,236	27,521
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		431	4,350
Other expenses (income), net	(840)	1,338	3,043
Loss before income taxes	(267,308)	(254,205)	(167,533)
Income tax expense (benefit)	35,993	(5,299)	(10,043)
Net loss	(303,301)	(248,906)	(157,490)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests	(394,988)	(220,660)	(86,638)
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders	91,687	(28,246)	(70,852)
Less: Deemed dividend to convertible preferred stockholders		(24,890)
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	$ 91,687	$ (53,136)	$ (70,852)
Net income (loss) per share available to common shareholders
Basic	$ 0.90	$ (0.96)	$ (3.11)
Diluted	$ 0.87	$ (0.96)	$ (3.11)
Weighted average shares used to compute net income (loss) per share available to common stockholders
Basic	102,367	55,091	22,795
Diluted	104,964	55,091	22,795