Condensed Consolidated Statements of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests and Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	Accumulated Earnings	Total Shareholders Equity	Noncontrolling Interest	Class A shares	Class B shares
Beginning balance at Nov. 30, 2015		$ 89,747
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Cash and accrued distributions to noncontrolling interests - tax equity investors	$ (3,574)	(3,580)			$ (3,574)
Net income (loss)		(68,543)
Ending balance at Nov. 30, 2016	17,624	17,624
Beginning balance at Nov. 30, 2015	602,386		$ 15,580	$ 408,328	194,058	$ 392,748
Beginning balance, shares at Nov. 30, 2015						20,007,281	51,000,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interests obtained through acquisition	40,128				40,128
Issuance of Class A shares, net of issuance costs	113,325			113,325		$ 113,325
Issuance of Class A shares, shares						8,050,000
Reclassification of noncontrolling interests due to issuance of Class A shares				(257,159)	257,159	$ (257,159)
Share-based compensation	224			224		$ 224
Share-based compensation, shares						15,399
Contributions from SunPower	9,973				9,973
Contributions from tax equity investors	50,507				50,507
Cash distributions to Class A shareholders	(20,241)		(20,241)	(20,241)
Cash distributions to Sponsors as OpCo unitholders	(12,271)				(12,271)
Net income (loss)	81,452		27,101	27,101	54,351
Ending balance at Nov. 30, 2016	861,909		22,440	271,578	590,331	$ 249,138
Ending balance, shares at Nov. 30, 2016						28,072,680	51,000,000
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Cash and accrued distributions to noncontrolling interests - tax equity investors	(2,192)	(1,781)			(2,192)
Net income (loss)	1,503
Ending balance at May. 31, 2017	17,346	$ 17,346
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interests obtained through acquisition	1,078				1,078
Share-based compensation	112			112		$ 112
Share-based compensation, shares						8,352
Contributions from tax equity investors	18,750				18,750
Cash distributions to Class A shareholders	(14,193)		(14,193)	(14,193)
Cash distributions to Sponsors as OpCo unitholders	(25,781)				(25,781)
Net income (loss)	320		4,247	4,247	(3,927)
Ending balance at May. 31, 2017	$ 840,003		$ 12,494	$ 261,744	$ 578,259	$ 249,250
Ending balance, shares at May. 31, 2017						28,081,032.000	51,000,000