Debt and Financing Obligations - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)						3 Months Ended		8 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2016	Mar. 30, 2016	Jun. 24, 2015	May 04, 2015	Jan. 30, 2015	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Nov. 30, 2015	Jun. 05, 2015	Oct. 17, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Distributions to sponsors									$ 2,207,000
Term Loan Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, carrying amount	$ 300,000,000					$ 300,000,000			$ 300,000,000		$ 300,000,000
Line of credit facility interest rate description									Loans outstanding under the credit facility bear interest at either (i) a base rate, which is the highest of (x) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, (y) the administrative agent’s prime rate and (z) one-month LIBOR, in each case, plus an applicable margin; or (ii) one-, two-, three- or six-month LIBOR plus an applicable margin.
Long-term debt, Effective Interest Rate	2.52%					2.52%			2.52%		2.41%
Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, carrying amount	$ 25,000,000					$ 25,000,000			$ 25,000,000
Long-term debt, Effective Interest Rate	2.52%					2.52%			2.52%
Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, carrying amount	$ 40,000,000					$ 40,000,000			$ 40,000,000
Long-term debt, Effective Interest Rate	2.52%					2.52%			2.52%
Senior Secured Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing amount												$ 525,000,000
Line Of Credit Facility Amortization Of Principal									$ 0
Discount and incremental debt issuance costs									3,100,000
Payment of debt issuance costs									1,700,000
Capitalized issuance of cost related to new borrowing debt									$ 1,400,000
Line of credit facility unused capacity, commitment fee percentage									0.30%
Debt service coverage ratio									1.75%
Senior Secured Credit Facility | Quarters ending August 31, 2016 through May 31, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt to cash flow ratio									5.50%
Senior Secured Credit Facility | Quarter ending thereafter
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt to cash flow ratio									5.00%
Senior Secured Credit Facility | Base Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility interest rate									0.50%
Senior Secured Credit Facility | Subsequent Event | OpCo
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing amount										$ 775,000,000
Line of credit facility, Increase in borrowing capacity										$ 250,000,000
Senior Secured Credit Facility | OpCo
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Economic interest in entities	35.00%					35.00%			35.00%
Senior Secured Credit Facility | First Solar
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Distributions to sponsors									$ 129,400,000
Senior Secured Credit Facility | SunPower
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Distributions to sponsors									168,900,000
Senior Secured Credit Facility | Term Loan Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing amount												300,000,000
Line of credit facility, amount outstanding	$ 300,000,000					$ 300,000,000			$ 300,000,000		$ 300,000,000	300,000,000
Line of credit facility, interest rate at period end	2.52%					2.52%			2.52%		2.41%
Senior Secured Credit Facility | Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing amount												25,000,000
Long-term debt, carrying amount	$ 25,000,000					$ 25,000,000			$ 25,000,000
Senior Secured Credit Facility | Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility | OpCo
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term loan facility drawn amount		$ 25,000,000
Senior Secured Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing amount	100,000,000					100,000,000			100,000,000			$ 200,000,000
Line of credit drawn amount	40,000,000
Letters of credit outstanding amount	58,600,000					58,600,000			58,600,000		$ 48,800,000
Senior Secured Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility | OpCo
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit drawn amount		$ 40,000,000
Senior Secured Credit Facility | Term Loan Facility And Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, current borrowing amount	250,000,000					250,000,000			250,000,000
Quinto Solar Project Financing, Non Recourse Credit Facility | Santander Mizuho And Credit Agricole Corporate And Investment Bank
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, amount outstanding	$ 224,300,000					$ 224,300,000			$ 224,300,000
Fee for early repayment			$ 600,000
Quinto Solar Project Financing, Non Recourse Credit Facility | Santander Mizuho And Credit Agricole Corporate And Investment Bank | Predecessor
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing amount													$ 377,000,000
Residential Lease Financing
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Accrued financing fee due date									Sep. 30, 2015
Financing obligation termination and repayment date									May 04, 2015
Residential Lease Financing | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, Effective Interest Rate	14.00%					14.00%			14.00%
Residential Lease Financing | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, Effective Interest Rate	15.00%					15.00%			15.00%
Residential Lease Financing | Predecessor
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Settlement of obligation outstanding				$ 29,000,000	$ 10,800,000
Outstanding financing obligation				21,100,000	$ 10,100,000
Accrued financing fees				$ 1,900,000
August Two Thousand Eleven Letter Of Credit Facility With Deutsche Bank | Predecessor
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letters of credit outstanding amount	$ 14,000,000					$ 14,000,000			$ 14,000,000		$ 30,700,000
Line of credit facility, commitment fee amount						$ 100,000	$ 100,000	$ 400,000	$ 300,000