Business combination capital contribution received from tax equity investor.

No definition available.

Name:	cafd_BusinessCombinationCapitalContributionReceivedFromTaxEquityInvestor
Namespace Prefix:	cafd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Business combination recognized identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed asset retirement obligation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cafd_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedAssetRetirementObligation
Namespace Prefix:	cafd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Business combination recognized identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed interest receivable.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cafd_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedInterestReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	cafd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Business combination recognized identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed related parties payable.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cafd_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedRelatedPartiesPayable
Namespace Prefix:	cafd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contribution paid for acquisition to affiliate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cafd_ContributionPaidForAcquisitionToAffiliate
Namespace Prefix:	cafd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the fair value of the noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionOfLessThan100PercentNoncontrollingInterestFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of asset related to consideration paid in advance for costs that provide economic benefits in future periods, and amount of other assets that are expected to be realized or consumed within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, acquired at the acquisition date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsPrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of property, plant, and equipment recognized as of the acquisition date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73530397&loc=d3e4845-128472

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 37
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73531372&loc=d3e2207-128464

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount recognized as of the acquisition date for the assets, including goodwill, in excess of (less than) the aggregate liabilities assumed, less the noncontrolling interest in the acquiree.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedLessNoncontrollingInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=cafd_KingbirdPurchaseAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=cafd_OpCoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Business Combinations - Kingbird Acquisition (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	May 31, 2016	May 31, 2016	Feb. 26, 2016	May 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Jun. 24, 2015
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Property and equipment						$ 56,497
Kingbird Purchase Agreement
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Property and equipment					$ 117,473
Prepaid transmission services					1,982
Interest receivable					72
Related party payable					(63,971)
Asset retirement obligation					(981)
Noncontrolling interest					(11,709)
Net assets acquired					$ 42,866
OpCo \| Kingbird Purchase Agreement
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Contribution paid for acquisition to affiliate				$ 17,100
Business combination capital contribution received from tax equity investor	$ 46,800	$ 46,800	$ 11,700