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Gross amount of debt extinguished.

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Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

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Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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The interest rate applicable to the portion of the carrying amount of long-term borrowings outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including current maturities, which accrues interest at a rate subject to change from time to time.

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The portion of the carrying amount of long-term borrowings outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including current maturities, which accrues interest at a rate subject to change from time to time.

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The cash outflow for incremental, external costs directly pertaining to an early extinguishment of debt, including legal costs and prepayment penalties, and excluding interest and repayment of debt principal.

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Long-Term Debt - Project-level Debt Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands					1 Months Ended		2 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 08, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 16, 2016	May 31, 2016	Apr. 21, 2016 power_plant	Jan. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 02, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Project level debt						$ 1,295,761		$ 1,257,867		$ 1,295,761
Stated interest rate								12.75%
Repayments of senior debt								$ 35,441	$ 0
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt								6,261	0
Interest income								2,200	0
Project-level debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Extinguishment of debt, amount								0	$ 0
Subsequent event \| India PSA
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Acquisition of projects, number of projects with accelerated debt maturities \| power_plant				2
Subsequent event \| South Africa projects
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Acquisition of projects, number of projects with accelerated debt maturities \| power_plant				3
Term debt \| Permanent financing
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Project level debt						368,935		$ 371,262		368,935
Long-term debt, percentage bearing variable interest								91.10%
Term debt \| Permanent financing \| South Africa
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, amount bearing fixed interest								$ 10,500
Amount of long term debt outstanding								$ 125,900
Term debt \| Permanent financing \| South Africa \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, percentage bearing variable interest								12.30%
Term debt \| Permanent financing \| South Africa \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, percentage bearing variable interest								13.00%
Term debt \| Permanent financing \| India
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, amount bearing fixed interest								$ 20,700
Term debt \| Permanent financing \| Boshof
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of long term debt outstanding								182,700
Term debt \| Permanent financing \| ESP Urja and Azure \| India
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, amount bearing fixed interest								$ 18,900
Term debt \| Permanent financing \| ESP Urja and Azure \| India \| Matures in September 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate								4.50%
Term debt \| Permanent financing \| ESP Urja and Azure \| India \| Matures in December 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate								4.79%
Term debt \| Permanent financing \| India PSA
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of project-level indebtedness of projects in equity method investment										23,600
Term debt \| Permanent financing \| Three-Month LIBOR And Three-Month Johannesburg Interbank Agreed Rate \| South Africa
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, amount bearing variable interest								$ 308,600
Term debt \| Permanent financing \| Kuala Lumpur Interbank Offered Rate \| Malaysia
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, amount bearing variable interest								$ 6,400
Stated interest rate								6.46%
Term debt \| Investor \| Permanent financing \| Silver Star Pavilion and Fortune 11 \| Malaysia
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, amount bearing fixed interest								$ 1,400
Stated interest rate								4.00%
Senior notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Extinguishment of debt, amount							$ 49,600
Senior notes \| 9.75% Senior Notes Due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Project level debt						791,826		$ 751,605		791,826
Stated interest rate								9.80%
Debt repurchase program, authorized amount						40,000				40,000
Extinguishment of debt, amount					$ 41,000	8,600
Repayments of senior debt					33,200	6,800	40,000
Payments of debt extinguishment costs					$ 1,900	$ 400	$ 2,300
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt								$ 6,300
Global Operating LLC \| Senior notes \| 9.75% Senior Notes Due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of long term debt outstanding								$ 751,600
Global Operating LLC \| Senior notes \| Subsequent event \| 9.75% Senior Notes Due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate											4.00%
Repayments of project-level indebtedness of projects in equity method investment	$ 135,000
Debt instrument, debt covenant, grace period for annual report			60 days
Debt covenant, cure period			90 days
Unspecified foreign currency hedging counterparty \| Global Operating LLC \| Subsequent event
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, debt covenant, grace period for annual report		120 days
Debt covenant, cure period		30 days
Accounts Payable \| Senior notes \| 9.75% Senior Notes Due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repurchase Program, Principal and Interest Due										$ 400