Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) - Schedule of Quarterly Results of Operations (Details) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands
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, 2014
Sep. 30, 2014
Jun. 30, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2015
Aug. 05, 2015
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]                          
Operating revenues, net $ 51,256 $ 29,373 $ 25,681 $ 17,806 $ 13,899 $ 7,446 $ 9,278 $ 8,826     $ 124,116 $ 39,449 $ 22,196
Operating (loss) income (223,329) (4,360) (2,241) 6,296 8,852 3,146 2,334 1,495     (223,634) 15,827 9,908
Interest expense, net 23,061 39,580 28,186 16,821 10,649 5,699 4,336 3,610     107,648 24,294 11,812
Net loss (254,196) (82,909) (22,679) (11,225) $ (1,699) $ (1,539) $ (597) $ (1,204) $ (331,656) $ (39,353) (371,009) (5,039) (2,277)
Net loss attributable to TerraForm Global, Inc. Class A common stockholders subsequent to initial public offering (164,588) (48,073)                      
Other comprehensive income (loss) $ 47,787 $ (28,936) $ (6,485) $ (6,851)         $ 9,615 $ (4,100) $ 4,384 $ (21,070) $ (2,399)
Class A common stock - Basic and diluted (in shares) 100,813 100,985                 100,813    
Basic and diluted loss per share (in dollars per share) $ (1.63) $ (0.48)                 $ (2.11)