Business Combinations - Additional Information (Details)										3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		May 31, 2016 USD ($) MW	Apr. 01, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) Project MW	Mar. 28, 2016 MW	Feb. 26, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 26, 2016 USD ($) MW	Jan. 22, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 24, 2015 Sites MW	May 31, 2016 USD ($) MW	Jun. 28, 2015 USD ($)	May 31, 2016 USD ($) MW	Jun. 28, 2015 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Aggregate solar nameplate megawatts | MW		525								525		525
Cash paid for acquisitions												$ 117,974,000	$ 0
Operating revenues	[1]									$ 13,517,000	$ 2,179,000	20,619,000	$ 4,313,000
OpCo
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Aggregate solar nameplate megawatts | MW					300
Number of year, power purchase agreement serving					5 years
Kern Acquisition
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Agreement date							Jan. 26, 2016
Aggregate solar nameplate megawatts | MW							20
Aggregate purchase price							$ 35,000,000
Cash paid for acquisitions							4,900,000
Purchase price to be paid on the closing of phases		$ 30,100,000								30,100,000		$ 30,100,000
Future capital contribution from tax equity investor							$ 28,400,000	$ 28,400,000
Kingbird Purchase Agreement | OpCo
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Agreement date												Mar. 31, 2016
Aggregate solar nameplate megawatts | MW				20
Future capital contribution from tax equity investor		46,800,000				$ 11,700,000
Number of solar generating projects | Project				2
Payment to acquire business		0		$ 60,000,000
Payment at closing				$ 42,900,000
Contribution paid for acquisition to affiliate		$ 17,100,000								17,100,000		$ 17,100,000
Percentage of purchase price funded				100.00%
Hooper Acquisition | OpCo
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Agreement date												Mar. 31, 2016
Aggregate solar nameplate megawatts | MW				50
Payment to acquire business			$ 53,500,000	$ 53,500,000
Percentage of purchase price funded			100.00%
Kern Phase 1(a) Assets, Kingbird Project and Hooper Project
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Operating revenues										2,200,000		$ 2,200,000
Decrease in net loss										$ 1,000,000		$ 1,000,000
Maryland Solar
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business acquisition, effective date of acquisition												Jun. 24, 2015
Maryland Solar | First Energy Solutions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Aggregate solar nameplate megawatts | MW									20
Percentage of voting interests acquired									100.00%
Number of year, power purchase agreement serving									20 years
Solar Gen Two Project Entity | San Diego Gas & Electric
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Aggregate solar nameplate megawatts | MW									150
Percentage of voting interests acquired									49.00%
Number of year, power purchase agreement serving									25 years
Electricity production capacity per site | MW									50
Number of site electricity generated separately | Sites									3
North Star | PG&E
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Aggregate solar nameplate megawatts | MW									60
Percentage of voting interests acquired									49.00%
Number of year, power purchase agreement serving									20 years
Lost Hills Blackwell | PG&E
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Aggregate solar nameplate megawatts | MW									32
Percentage of voting interests acquired									49.00%
Number of year, power purchase agreement serving									25 years

[1] The Partnership has related-party activities for transactions made with the Sponsors. Related party transactions recorded within “Operating revenues” in the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations were $1.3 million and $2.6 million for the three and six months ended May 31, 2016, respectively, and $0.1 million for each of the three and six months ended June 28, 2015. Related party transactions recorded within “Operating costs and expenses” in the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations were $1.7 million and $3.1 million for the three and six months ended May 31, 2016, respectively, and $0.2 million and $0.5 million for the three and six months ended June 28, 2015, respectively.