Debt and Financing Obligations - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)					3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Feb. 24, 2017	Dec. 02, 2016	Sep. 29, 2016	Mar. 30, 2016	Feb. 28, 2017	Feb. 29, 2016	Nov. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 05, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Distributions to sponsors					$ 880,000		$ 3,574,000
OpCo | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Subordinated indebtedness					$ 50,000,000
First Solar | OpCo | Stateline Project
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity description of promissory note					The principal amount of $50.0 million. The Stateline Promissory Note is unsecured and matures on the date that is six months after the maturity date under OpCo’s credit facility.
Promissory Note issued		$ 50,000,000
Interest rate of Promissory Note		4.00%
Interest rate of promissory note contingent upon certain conditions		6.00%
Term Loan Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, carrying amount					$ 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.
Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, carrying amount					$ 25,000,000		25,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, carrying amount					89,000,000		63,000,000
Incremental Term Loan Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, carrying amount					250,000,000
Stateline Promissory Note
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, carrying amount					50,000,000
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
Line of credit facility unused capacity, commitment fee percentage					0.30%
Debt service coverage ratio					1.75%
Senior Secured Credit Facility | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt to cash flow ratio					600.00%
Debt to cash flow ratio					500.00%
Senior Secured Credit Facility | Base Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility interest rate					0.50%
Senior Secured Credit Facility | OpCo
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Economic interest in entities					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
Line of credit facility, interest rate at period end					2.78%		2.61%
Senior Secured Credit Facility | Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing amount									25,000,000
Debt, carrying amount					$ 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									$ 200,000,000
Line of credit drawn amount					89,000,000		63,000,000
Letters of credit outstanding amount					54,900,000		54,900,000
Senior Secured Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility | OpCo
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit drawn amount				$ 40,000,000
Senior Secured Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility | Kern Phase 2(b) Acquisition | OpCo
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit drawn amount	$ 6,000,000
Senior Secured Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility | Henrietta Acquisition | OpCo
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit drawn amount			$ 23,000,000
Senior Secured Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility | Stateline Acquisition | OpCo
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit drawn amount		$ 20,000,000
Senior Secured Credit Facility | Incremental Term Loan Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, amount outstanding					250,000,000
Senior Secured Credit Facility | Incremental Term Loan Facility | 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 | Incremental Term Loan Facility | Stateline Acquisition | OpCo
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term loan facility drawn amount		$ 250,000,000
August Two Thousand Eleven Letter Of Credit Facility With Deutsche Bank | Predecessor
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letters of credit outstanding amount					11,500,000		$ 30,700,000
Line of credit facility, commitment fee amount					$ 100,000	$ 100,000