VIE Arrangements - Carrying Amounts and Classification of the VIEs' Assets and Liabilities Included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets:
Cash		$ 211,321	$ 206,364	$ 207,220	$ 203,864
Restricted cash		15,672	11,882
Accounts receivable, net		64,030	60,258
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		12,575	9,802
Total current assets		356,342	369,345
Solar energy systems, net		2,951,260	2,629,366
Other assets		29,834	34,936
Total assets (1)	[1]	3,489,102	3,572,818
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		75,336	66,018
Distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests		13,212	10,654
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		52,961	59,261
Deferred revenue, current portion		70,601	70,849
Deferred grants, current portion		8,363	8,011
Long-term non-recourse debt, current portion		18,883	14,153
Total current liabilities		500,750	244,784
Deferred revenue, net of current portion		578,484	583,401
Deferred grants, net of current portion		222,184	226,893
Long-term non-recourse debt, net of current portion		761,349	639,870
Other liabilities		10,682	5,457
Total liabilities (1)	[1]	2,275,819	2,510,725
Variable Interest Entities
Current assets:
Cash		108,039	120,728
Restricted cash		3,574	1,680
Accounts receivable, net		27,547	20,771
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		235	242
Total current assets		139,395	143,421
Solar energy systems, net		2,237,670	1,920,330
Other assets		2,159	1,481
Total assets (1)		2,379,224	2,065,232
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		22,196	14,873
Distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests		13,213	10,654
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		1,471	782
Deferred revenue, current portion		27,468	25,827
Deferred grants, current portion		3,623	3,644
Long-term non-recourse debt, current portion		10,331	8,616
Total current liabilities		78,302	64,396
Deferred revenue, net of current portion		416,635	396,858
Deferred grants, net of current portion		103,310	105,390
Long-term non-recourse debt, net of current portion		161,689	50,367
Other liabilities		2,337	0
Total liabilities (1)		$ 762,273	$ 617,011

[1] The Company’s consolidated assets as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 include $2,379,224 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 June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were $2,237,670 and $1,920,330, respectively; cash as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were $108,039 and $120,728, respectively; restricted cash as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were $3,574 and $1,680, respectively; accounts receivable, net as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were $27,547 and $20,771, respectively; prepaid expenses and other current assets as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were $235 and $242, respectively and other assets as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were $2,159 and $1,481, respectively. The Company’s consolidated liabilities as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 include $762,273 and $617,011, respectively, in liabilities of VIEs whose creditors have no recourse to the Company. These liabilities include accounts payable as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 of $22,196 and $14,873, respectively; distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 of $13,213 and $10,654, respectively; accrued expenses and other liabilities as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 of $1,471 and $782, respectively; deferred revenue as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 of $444,103 and $422,685, respectively; deferred grants as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 of $106,933 and $109,034, respectively; and long-term non-recourse debt as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 of $172,020 and $58,983, respectively.