Related Parties - Additional Information (Details)									1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Feb. 24, 2017 USD ($)	Feb. 13, 2017 MW	Dec. 14, 2016 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Nov. 11, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 09, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 27, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 22, 2016 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2015 USD ($)	May 31, 2017 USD ($) MW	Feb. 28, 2017	May 31, 2016 USD ($)	May 31, 2017 USD ($) MW	May 31, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 23, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 02, 2016	Dec. 01, 2016 USD ($)	Nov. 25, 2015 USD ($)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Power purchase agreement period (in years)													5 years
MW(ac) | MW										945			945
Annual revenue										$ 16,678,000		$ 13,517,000	$ 26,575,000	$ 20,619,000
Kern Acquisition
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Business combination capital contribution received from tax equity investor	$ 8,200,000		$ 6,700,000	$ 1,300,000		$ 1,800,000
El Pelicano Solar Generation Project | SunPower ROFO Waiver
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
MW(ac) | MW		100
Maximum | Kern Acquisition
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Aggregate purchase price							$ 36,700,000	$ 30,000,000
Business combination capital contribution received from tax equity investor								900,000
Future capital contribution from tax equity investor								$ 11,100,000
First Solar MSA
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Annual management fee									$ 600,000
SunPower MSA
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Annual management fee									$ 1,100,000
Service Provider
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Management fee expense										400,000		400,000	$ 900,000	900,000
Affiliated Entity
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Period of warranty for power and product													25 years
Affiliated Entity | Minimum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Period of warranty for materials, construction, fabrication and workmanship													2 years
Affiliated Entity | Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Period of warranty for materials, construction, fabrication and workmanship													10 years
Leased Solar Energy Systems | Predecessor
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cost of operations-SunPower, prior to IPO										1,700,000		$ 1,300,000	$ 3,300,000	2,300,000
OpCo
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cash received as indemnity										$ 100,000			$ 100,000	$ 10,000,000
Promissory note issued																		$ 2,000,000.0
Interest rate of promissory note																		1.00%
Power purchase agreement period (in years)											5 years
OpCo | First Solar ROFO Agreement
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Negotiation period (in days)		45 days
OpCo | SunPower ROFO Waiver
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Power purchase agreement period (in years)		5 years
OpCo | Stateline | First Solar
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Payment to acquire equity method investment					$ 329,500,000
OpCo | Switch Station Solar Generation Project
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
MW(ac) | MW										179			179
OpCo | Cuyama Solar Generation Project
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
MW(ac) | MW										40			40
OpCo | California Flats Solar Generation Project
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
MW(ac) | MW										280			280
Maryland Solar
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Pretax impairment charge															$ 1,510,000,000
Annual revenue													$ 8,000,000
OpCo | First Solar | Stateline
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Interest rate of promissory note																4.00%
OpCo | Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Subordinated indebtedness																	$ 50,000,000