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, net of issuance costs, 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	(4,037)	(2,671)			(4,037)
Net income (loss)		2,393
Ending balance at Aug. 31, 2017	17,346	$ 17,346
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interests obtained through acquisition	1,736				1,736
Share-based compensation	168			168		$ 168
Share-based compensation, shares						12,255
Contributions from tax equity investors	24,353				24,353
Cash distributions to Class A shareholders	(21,610)		(21,610)	(21,610)
Cash distributions to Sponsors as OpCo unitholders	(39,255)				(39,255)
Net income (loss)	28,091		11,720	11,720	16,371
Ending balance at Aug. 31, 2017	$ 851,355		$ 12,550	$ 261,856	$ 589,499	$ 249,306
Ending balance, shares at Aug. 31, 2017						28,084,935.000	51,000,000