Noncontrolling Interests - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016	Nov. 30, 2016
Minority Interest [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interests obtained through acquisition	$ 700	$ 600	$ 1,736	$ 36,800	$ 40,128
Redeemable noncontrolling interests attributable to tax equity investors	17,346		17,346		17,624
Noncontrolling interests attributable to tax equity investors	589,499		589,499		$ 590,331
Losses attributed to the investors	$ 21,189	8,281	$ 18,765	(14,263)
First Solar
Minority Interest [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage	28.00%		28.00%		36.50%
Noncontrolling interests attributable to tax equity investors	$ 236,746		$ 236,746		$ 238,210
SunPower
Minority Interest [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage	28.00%		28.00%		36.50%
Noncontrolling interests attributable to tax equity investors	$ 309,440		$ 309,440		$ 311,327
Tax Equity Investors
Minority Interest [Line Items]
Redeemable noncontrolling interests attributable to tax equity investors	17,300		17,300		17,600
Noncontrolling interests attributable to tax equity investors	43,313		43,313		$ 40,794
Subsidiaries
Minority Interest [Line Items]
Amount received from investors under the related facilities	5,600	0	24,400	47,200
Losses attributed to the investors	(1,600)	24,300	(17,100)	(112,100)
Amount distributions to investors under the related facilities	$ 2,700	$ 2,300	$ 6,700	$ 4,900