Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 29, 2013 SolarSystem		Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 30, 2012
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Future Minimum Sublease Rentals	$ 78,200,000			$ 78,200,000
Capital Lease Obligations [Abstract]
Project Financing Agreement, Lease Terms				20 years
Power Purchase Agreement, Term	20 years			20 years
Purchase Commitments [Abstract]
Purchase Commitments, Supply and Price Period				10 years
Purchase Commitments
Total obligations related to non-cancellable orders	249,019,000	[1]		249,019,000	[1]
Commitments to non-consolidated joint ventures	137,700,000			137,700,000
Product Warranties [Abstract]
Standard Product Warranty Term, Solar Panels				25 years
Industry Standard Product Warranty Term, Solar Panels				25 years
Standard Product Warranty Term, Inverter, Minimum				5 years
Standard Product Warranty Term, Inverter, Maximum				10 years
Standard Product Warranty Term, Worksmanship				10 years
Movement in Standard and Extended Product Warranty, Increase (Decrease) [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	126,293,000		104,439,000	117,172,000		94,323,000
Accruals for warranties issued during the period	9,643,000		7,387,000	21,995,000		20,692,000
Settlements made during the period	1,161,000		2,174,000	(4,392,000)		5,363,000
Balance at the end of the period	134,775,000		109,652,000	134,775,000		109,652,000
Liabilities Associated with Uncertain Tax Positions
Unrecognized tax benefits	25,193,000			25,193,000			35,022,000
Loss Contingency, Settlement Agreement, Consideration							19,700,000
Sytems Repurchase Under Performance Guarantee				0
Minimum Lease Payments, Sale Leaseback Transactions	39,200,000			39,200,000
Supply Commitment, Remaining Minimum Amount Committed	2,282,413,000	[1]		2,282,413,000	[1]
AUOSP [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Future Financing Obligations Year One	147,120,000			147,120,000
Future Financing Obligations Year Two	96,770,000			96,770,000
Future Financing Obligations	243,890,000			243,890,000
Capital Lease Obligations [Member]
Capital Lease Obligations [Abstract]
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Next Twelve Months	259,000			259,000
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due in Two Years	1,056,000			1,056,000
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due in Three Years	1,012,000			1,012,000
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due in Four Years	993,000			993,000
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due in Five Years	947,000			947,000
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due Thereafter	2,449,000			2,449,000
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due	6,716,000			6,716,000
Operating Lease Obligation [Member]
Operating Leases Obligations [Abstract]
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Next Twelve Months	6,085,000			6,085,000
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Two Years	15,327,000			15,327,000
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Three Years	14,441,000			14,441,000
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Four Years	13,894,000			13,894,000
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Five Years	12,290,000			12,290,000
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due Thereafter	85,386,000			85,386,000
Operating Lease, Future Minimum Payments Due	147,423,000			147,423,000
Purchase Commitment [Member]
Purchase Commitments
2013	591,486,000	[1]		591,486,000	[1]
2014	523,887,000	[1]		523,887,000	[1]
2015	370,463,000	[1]		370,463,000	[1]
2016	334,105,000	[1]		334,105,000	[1]
2017	194,512,000	[1]		194,512,000	[1]
Thereafter	516,979,000	[1]		516,979,000	[1]
Total future purchase commitments	$ 2,531,432,000	[1]		$ 2,531,432,000	[1]

[1] Total future purchase obligations as of September 29, 2013 include $137.7 million to related parties.