Transactions Between Entities Under Common Control - Changes in Previously Reported Balance Sheet Details (Details) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Feb. 24, 2016 power_plant MW	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 870,494		$ 922,318	$ 667,738	$ 150,146
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	117,841		139,335
Power plants, net	1,375,254		1,206,604
Restricted cash	18,003		22,682
Due from SunEdison, net			0
Other assets	40,211		51,809
Total assets	2,655,785		2,687,166
Accounts payable	23,555		8,491
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities, including consolidated variable interest entities of $46,773 in June 30, 2016 and $15,496 in December 31, 2015	111,305		129,437
Due to Sun Edison, net	29,326		44,254
Less current portion of long-term debt	324,225		319,498
Long-term debt, less current portion	888,082		952,653
Total liabilities	1,438,886		1,503,899
Additional paid-in capital	935,492		923,740
Accumulated deficit	(215,664)		(212,129)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	8,241		(11,181)
Non-controlling interests	487,114		481,106
Total TerraForm Global, Inc. stockholders’ equity	729,785		702,161
Debt issuance costs reclassified	$ (21,419)		(23,610)
Unadjusted
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents			921,946
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			144,743
Power plants, net			1,148,350
Restricted cash			22,582
Due from SunEdison, net			10,110
Other assets			66,901
Accounts payable			8,034
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities, including consolidated variable interest entities of $46,773 in June 30, 2016 and $15,496 in December 31, 2015			123,280
Due to Sun Edison, net			0
Less current portion of long-term debt			327,714
Long-term debt, less current portion			968,047
Additional paid-in capital			923,924
Accumulated deficit			(212,661)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(11,253)
Non-controlling interests			480,668
Recast Adjustments
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents			372
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			(5,408)
Power plants, net			58,254
Restricted cash			100
Due from SunEdison, net			(10,110)
Other assets			(15,092)
Total assets			28,116
Accounts payable			457
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities, including consolidated variable interest entities of $46,773 in June 30, 2016 and $15,496 in December 31, 2015			6,157
Due to Sun Edison, net			44,254
Less current portion of long-term debt			(8,216)
Long-term debt, less current portion			(15,394)
Total liabilities			27,258
Additional paid-in capital			(184)
Accumulated deficit			532
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			72
Non-controlling interests			438
Total TerraForm Global, Inc. stockholders’ equity			858
NPS Star and WXA
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Number of projects acquired | power_plant		2
Capacity of acquired power plants | MW		35.6
Other current assets | Accounting Standards Update 2015-03
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Debt issuance costs reclassified			23,600
Long-term debt, less current portion | Accounting Standards Update 2015-03
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Debt issuance costs reclassified			$ (23,600)