Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Operating revenues, net	$ 124,116	$ 39,449	$ 22,196
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of operations	9,964	1,999	355
Cost of operations - affiliate	6,388	2,257	1,311
General and administrative expense	11,603	1,349	1,047
General and administrative expense - affiliate	20,668	10,850	4,790
Acquisition, formation and related costs	39,358	0	0
Depreciation, accretion and amortization expense	28,769	7,167	4,785
Provision for contingent loss on deposit for acquisitions	231,000	0	0
Total operating costs and expenses	347,750	23,622	12,288
Operating (loss) income	(223,634)	15,827	9,908
Other expense (income):
Loss on extinguishment of debt, net	2,298	0	0
Interest expense, net	107,648	24,294	11,812
Gain on previously held equity investment	(1,426)	0	0
Loss (gain) on foreign currency exchange, net	35,363	(4,038)	2,247
Other income, net	(1,366)	(1,090)	(223)
Total other expenses, net	142,517	19,166	13,836
Loss before income tax expense	(366,151)	(3,339)	(3,928)
Income tax expense (benefit)	4,858	1,700	(1,651)
Net loss	(371,009)	$ (5,039)	$ (2,277)
Less: Predecessor loss prior to initial public offering on August 5, 2015	(39,353)
Net loss subsequent to initial public offering	(331,656)
Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests	(118,995)
Net loss attributable to TerraForm Global, Inc. Class A common stockholders	$ (212,661)
Weighted average number of shares:
Class A common stock - Basic and diluted (in shares)	100,813
Loss per share:
Class A common stock - Basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (2.11)