Related Parties - Additional Information (Details)									3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
		May 31, 2016 USD ($) MW	Apr. 01, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) MW	Mar. 28, 2016 Facility MW	Feb. 26, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 26, 2016 USD ($) MW	Jan. 22, 2016 USD ($)	May 31, 2016 USD ($) MW	Feb. 29, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 28, 2015 USD ($)	May 31, 2016 USD ($) MW	Jun. 28, 2015 USD ($)	Nov. 25, 2015 USD ($)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cost of operations-SunPower, prior to IPO	[1]								$ 0		$ 234,000	$ 0	$ 468,000
MW(ac) | MW		525							525			525
Lease term expiration date												Dec. 31, 2019
Selling, general and administrative	[1]								$ 1,656,000		4,519,000	$ 3,292,000	7,798,000
Kern Acquisition
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Future capital contribution from tax equity investor							$ 28,400,000	$ 28,400,000
MW(ac) | MW							20
First Solar ROFO Amendment
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
MW(ac) | MW					100
Number of facilities | Facility					2
IPO PSAs
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Payment to acquire business												0
First Solar | Stateline
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Contribution of Interest in entities					24.00%
First Solar MSA
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Annual management fee												$ 600,000
First Solar MSA | Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Possible one-time percentage increase in management fee by service provider		15.00%							15.00%			15.00%
SunPower MSA
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Annual management fee												$ 1,100,000
SunPower MSA | Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Possible one-time percentage increase in management fee by service provider		15.00%							15.00%			15.00%
Service Provider
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Management fee expense									$ 400,000		20,000	$ 800,000	20,000
Affiliated Entity
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Period of warranty for power and product												25 years
Affiliated Entity | Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Period of warranty for materials, construction, fabrication and workmanship												10 years
Affiliated Entity | Minimum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Period of warranty for materials, construction, fabrication and workmanship												2 years
Leased Solar Energy Systems | Predecessor
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cost of operations-SunPower, prior to IPO									1,300,000		200,000	$ 2,300,000	500,000
OpCo
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cash received as indemnity										$ 10,000,000
Promissory Note issued														$ 2,000,000
Interest rate of Promissory Note														1.00%
Number of year, power purchase agreement serving					5 years
MW(ac) | MW					300
OpCo | Kingbird Purchase Agreement
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Payment to acquire business		$ 0		$ 60,000,000
Future capital contribution from tax equity investor		46,800,000				$ 11,700,000
Payment at closing				$ 42,900,000
Contribution for acquisition will be paid to affiliate		$ 17,100,000							$ 17,100,000			17,100,000
MW(ac) | MW				20
OpCo | Hooper Purchase Agreement
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Payment to acquire business			$ 53,500,000	$ 0
OpCo | SunPower
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cash received as indemnity												$ 3,900,000
OpCo | Maximum | First Solar
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Option to purchase remaining indirect interest in facility					100.00%
OpCo | Minimum | First Solar
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Option to purchase remaining indirect interest in facility					50.00%
Maryland Solar
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Lease term expiration date												Dec. 31, 2019
Sun Power Operating Expenses Allocations | Predecessor
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Selling, general and administrative											$ 3,000,000		$ 4,800,000

[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.