Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Table (Details) - USD ($)
 3 Months Ended 5 Months Ended 7 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Sep. 30, 2015
Jun. 30, 2015
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2015
Aug. 05, 2015
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]                  
Beginning balance       $ 48,764,000 $ 507,069,000 $ 48,764,000 $ 48,764,000 $ 69,701,000 $ 32,697,000
Ending balance $ 1,182,409,000       1,182,409,000 507,069,000 1,182,409,000 48,764,000 69,701,000
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]                  
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax 47,787,000 $ (28,936,000) $ (6,485,000) (6,851,000) 9,615,000 (4,100,000) 4,384,000 (21,070,000) (2,399,000)
Other comprehensive income attributable to TerraForm Global, Inc. Class A stockholders             19,048,000    
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments, attributable to parent                  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]                  
Beginning balance       (16,380,000)   (16,380,000) (16,380,000) (8,213,000)  
Ending balance (12,891,000)       (12,891,000)   (12,891,000) (16,380,000) (8,213,000)
Hedging Activities, attributable to parent                  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]                  
Beginning balance       (10,141,000)   (10,141,000) (10,141,000) 2,762,000  
Ending balance 1,638,000       1,638,000   1,638,000 (10,141,000) 2,762,000
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, attributable to parent                  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]                  
Beginning balance       (26,521,000) (30,621,000) (26,521,000) (26,521,000) (5,451,000) (3,052,000)
Ending balance (11,253,000)       (11,253,000) (30,621,000) (11,253,000) (26,521,000) (5,451,000)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]                  
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax         10,715,000 (4,100,000)   (21,070,000) (2,399,000)
Foreign currency translation adjustments                  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]                  
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications             (9,634,000) (8,167,000)  
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss             0 0  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]                  
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax             (9,634,000) (8,167,000)  
Other comprehensive income (loss), tax             271,000    
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax             (9,363,000)    
Accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss related to cross currency swaps                  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]                  
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications             15,149,000 (12,903,000)  
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss             0 0  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]                  
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax             15,149,000 (12,903,000)  
Other comprehensive income (loss), tax             (1,402,000)    
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax             13,747,000    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, including portion attributable to noncontrolling interest                  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]                  
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications             5,515,000 (21,070,000)  
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss             0 0  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]                  
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax             5,515,000 (21,070,000)  
Other comprehensive income (loss), tax             (1,131,000)    
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax             4,384,000    
Accumulated Foreign Currency Adjustments, attributable to noncontrolling interest                  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]                  
Less: other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interests             (13,123,000) 0  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]                  
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax             (13,123,000)    
Other comprehensive income (loss), tax             133,000    
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax             (12,990,000)    
Hedging Activities, attributable to noncontrolling interest                  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]                  
Less: other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interests             3,370,000 0  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]                  
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax             3,370,000    
Other comprehensive income (loss), tax             (944,000)    
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax             2,426,000    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, attributable to noncontrolling interest                  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]                  
Beginning balance       $ 0 0 0 0 0 0
Less: other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interests             (9,753,000) 0  
Ending balance $ (9,753,000)       (9,753,000) 0 (9,753,000) $ 0 $ 0
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]                  
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax             (9,753,000)    
Other comprehensive income (loss), tax             (811,000)    
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax         $ (1,100,000)   $ (10,564,000)    
Predecessor                  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract]                  
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax           $ (4,100,000)