VIE Arrangements - Carrying Amounts and Classification of the VIEs' Assets and Liabilities Included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current assets:
Cash		$ 206,364	$ 203,864	$ 152,154	$ 99,699
Restricted cash		11,882	9,203
Accounts receivable, net		60,258	60,275
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		9,802	5,917
Total current assets		369,345	359,715
Solar energy systems, net		2,629,366	1,992,021
Other assets		34,936	29,502
Total assets	[1]	3,572,818	2,734,592
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		66,018	104,133
Distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests		10,654	8,144
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		59,261	49,146
Deferred revenue, current portion		70,849	59,726
Deferred grants, current portion		8,011	13,949
Long-term non-recourse debt, current portion		14,153	4,722
Total current liabilities		244,784	252,481
Deferred revenue, net of current portion		583,401	559,066
Deferred grants, net of current portion		226,893	220,784
Long-term non-recourse debt, net of current portion		639,870	333,042
Total liabilities	[1]	2,510,725	1,927,893
Variable Interest Entities
Current assets:
Cash		120,728	44,407
Restricted cash		1,680	757
Accounts receivable, net		20,771	12,965
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		242	66
Total current assets		143,421	58,195
Solar energy systems, net		1,920,330	1,305,420
Other assets		1,481	0
Total assets		2,065,232	1,363,615
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		14,873	11,025
Distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests		10,654	8,063
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		782	175
Deferred revenue, current portion		25,827	21,344
Deferred grants, current portion		3,644	7,198
Long-term non-recourse debt, current portion		8,616	1,159
Total current liabilities		64,396	48,964
Deferred revenue, net of current portion		396,858	353,392
Deferred grants, net of current portion		105,390	108,528
Long-term non-recourse debt, net of current portion		50,367	29,580
Total liabilities		$ 617,011	$ 540,464

[1] The Company’s consolidated assets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 include $2,065,232 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 December 31, 2016 and 2015 were $1,920,330 and $1,305,420, respectively; cash as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 were $120,728 and $44,407, respectively; restricted cash as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 were $1,680 and $757, respectively; accounts receivable, net as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 were $20,771 and $12,965, respectively; prepaid expenses and other current assets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 were $242 and $66, respectively and other assets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 were $1,481 and $0, respectively. The Company’s consolidated liabilities as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 include $617,011 and $540,464, respectively, in liabilities of VIEs whose creditors have no recourse to the Company. These liabilities include accounts payable as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 of $14,873 and $11,025, respectively; distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 of $10,654 and $8,063, respectively; accrued expenses and other liabilities as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 of $782 and $175, respectively; deferred revenue as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 of $422,685 and $374,736, respectively; deferred grants as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 of $109,034 and $115,726, respectively; and long-term non-recourse debt as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 of $58,983 and $30,739, respectively.