Acquisitions - Pending Acquisition Narrative (Details)
ZAR in Millions, $ in Millions
1 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Jan. 31, 2017
ZAR
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2016
USD ($)
Apr. 30, 2015
USD ($)
power_plant
MW
shares
Apr. 30, 2015
ZAR
power_plant
MW
shares
Feb. 24, 2016
MW
Feb. 20, 2016
power_plant
Aug. 31, 2015
USD ($)
power_plant
Aug. 04, 2015
MW
Assets associated with third party sale transaction | Subsequent event                    
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                    
Proceeds from the Third Party Sale Transaction       $ 6.7            
BioTherm                    
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                    
Number of projects acquired | power_plant         3 3        
Payments to acquire businesses         $ 74.5          
Escrow deposit                 $ 65.6  
BioTherm | Scenario, forecast                    
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                    
Payments to acquire businesses $ 8.9                  
BioTherm | South Africa                    
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                    
Number of projects acquired | power_plant         3 3     3  
Capacity of power plant | MW         32.6 32.6        
BioTherm | Non-current restricted cash                    
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                    
Cash deposits held for acquisitions                 $ 20.3  
BioTherm | Deposits for acquisitions                    
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                    
Cash deposits held for acquisitions                 $ 45.3  
BioTherm | Deposits for acquisitions | Common stock                    
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                    
Common stock issued in acquisition (in shares) | shares         544,055 544,055        
BioTherm | United States of America, Dollars                    
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                    
Payments to acquire businesses         $ 67.6          
BioTherm | South Africa, Rand                    
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                    
Payments to acquire businesses     $ 6.9     ZAR 100.4        
BioTherm | BioTherm | United States of America, Dollars | Scenario, forecast                    
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                    
Payments to acquire businesses 2.0                  
BioTherm | BioTherm | South Africa, Rand | Scenario, forecast                    
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                    
Payments to acquire businesses 0.8 ZAR 11.6                
BioTherm | Minority interests in South African acquisition | Scenario, forecast                    
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                    
Payments to acquire businesses $ 6.1 ZAR 88.9                
Del Litoral | SunEdison                    
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                    
Capacity of power plant | MW                   17.4
El Naranjal | SunEdison                    
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                    
Capacity of power plant | MW                   57.4
Bora Bora | SunEdison                    
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                    
Capacity of power plant | MW                   24.1
NPS Star | Subsequent event                    
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                    
Number of projects acquired | power_plant               3    
Capacity of power plant | MW             17.8      
WXA | Subsequent event                    
Business Acquisition [Line Items]                    
Number of projects acquired | power_plant               3    
Capacity of power plant | MW             17.8