VIE Arrangements - Carrying Amounts and Classification of the VIEs' Assets and Liabilities Included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets:
Cash		$ 203,791	$ 206,364	$ 208,313	$ 203,864
Restricted cash		12,030	11,882
Accounts receivable, net		54,065	60,258
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		11,585	9,802
Total current assets		341,074	369,345
Solar energy systems, net		2,790,424	2,629,366
Other assets		31,497	34,936
Total assets	[1]	3,319,028	3,572,818
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		65,520	66,018
Distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests		11,157	10,654
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		48,675	59,261
Deferred revenue, current portion		74,284	70,849
Deferred grants, current portion		8,394	8,011
Long-term non-recourse debt, current portion		15,797	14,153
Total current liabilities		238,897	244,784
Deferred revenue, net of current portion		578,425	583,401
Deferred grants, net of current portion		224,217	226,893
Long-term non-recourse debt, net of current portion		686,078	639,870
Total liabilities	[1]	2,170,482	2,510,725
Variable Interest Entities
Current assets:
Cash		114,974	120,728
Restricted cash		1,631	1,680
Accounts receivable, net		22,916	20,771
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		202	242
Total current assets		139,723	143,421
Solar energy systems, net		2,083,079	1,920,330
Other assets		1,478	1,481
Total assets		2,224,280	2,065,232
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		22,564	14,873
Distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests		11,157	10,654
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		1,600	782
Deferred revenue, current portion		28,593	25,827
Deferred grants, current portion		3,641	3,644
Long-term non-recourse debt, current portion		9,813	8,616
Total current liabilities		77,368	64,396
Deferred revenue, net of current portion		405,211	396,858
Deferred grants, net of current portion		104,447	105,390
Long-term non-recourse debt, net of current portion		51,925	50,367
Total liabilities		$ 638,951	$ 617,011

[1] The Company’s consolidated assets as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 include $2,224,280 and $2,065,232, 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 March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were $2,083,079 and $1,920,330, respectively; cash as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were $114,974 and $120,728, respectively; restricted cash as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were $1,631 and $1,680, respectively; accounts receivable, net as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were $22,916 and $20,771, respectively; prepaid expenses and other current assets as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were $202 and $242, respectively and other assets as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were $1,478 and $1,481, respectively. The Company’s consolidated liabilities as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 include $638,951 and $617,011, respectively, in liabilities of VIEs whose creditors have no recourse to the Company. These liabilities include accounts payable as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 of $22,564 and $14,873, respectively; distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 of $11,157 and $10,654, respectively; accrued expenses and other liabilities as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 of $1,600 and $782, respectively; deferred revenue as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 of $433,804 and $422,685, respectively; deferred grants as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 of $108,088 and $109,034, respectively; and long-term non-recourse debt as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 of $61,738 and $58,983, respectively.