Noncontrolling Interests - Schedule of Non-Controlling Interest Balances by Entity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	May 31, 2016	Nov. 30, 2015
Minority Interest [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interests	$ 329,587	$ 194,058
Tax Equity Investors
Minority Interest [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interests	72,014	11,773
First Solar
Minority Interest [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interests	187,925	159,624
SunPower
Minority Interest [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interests	$ 69,648	$ 22,661

Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which is directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (that is, noncontrolling interest, previously referred to as minority interest).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.31)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 27
-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 20
-Article 7

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant