Business Combinations - The Unaudited Pro Forma Supplementary Data (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 28, 2015	Jun. 28, 2015
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Operating revenues	$ 4,092	$ 7,125
Net loss	(6,630)	(14,781)
Net income attributable to 8point3 Energy Partners LP Class A shares	$ 989	$ 1,192
Net income per Class A share - Basic and Diluted	$ 0.05	$ 0.06

The pro forma basic and diluted net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cafd_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaEarningsPerShareBasicAndDiluted
Namespace Prefix:	cafd_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma net Income or Loss for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cafd_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaNetIncomeLossBasic
Namespace Prefix:	cafd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma net Income or Loss for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(2)-(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56956515&loc=d3e1392-128463

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaNetIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration