Non-Controlling Interests - Schedule of Non-controlling Interests by Entity in Stockholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Total non-controlling interests	$ 485,155	$ 481,106
Global LLC
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Ownership percentage by parent	64.80%
SunEdison
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Total non-controlling interests	35.20%
Investor | Non-controlling interests in power plants
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Total non-controlling interests	$ 96,132	105,566
Investor | SunEdison | Global LLC
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Total non-controlling interests	$ 389,023	$ 375,540