Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:      
Net loss $ (371,009) $ (5,039) $ (2,277)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:      
Amortization of deferred financing costs 21,159 1,140 772
Depreciation, accretion and amortization 28,769 7,167 4,785
Stock-based compensation expense 1,601 0 0
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps (5,639) 705 (158)
Provision for contingent loss on deposit for acquisitions 231,000 0 0
Gain on previously held equity investment (1,426) 0 0
Loss on extinguishment of debt (2,298) 0 0
Unrealized gains on foreign currency, net (21,383) 0
Deferred tax expense (benefit) 3,230 1,461 (1,956)
Other non-cash items (763)    
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:      
Accounts receivable 3,187 (7,533) (2,766)
Prepaid expenses and other assets 54,328 (656) (3,518)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities 61,072 (5,512) 3,892
Due to/from SunEdison, net 3,197 23,327 (15,746)
Net cash provided by (used in) by operating activities 9,621 15,060 (16,972)
Cash flows from investing activities:      
Capital expenditures (94,253) (190,267) (60,312)
Change in cash committed for construction 40,573 (40,305) (2,120)
Change in restricted cash (29,435) (1,509) (38,776)
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired (266,025) 0 0
Cash paid for equity method investment (72,400) 0 0
Cash paid for deposit for acquisitions (276,400) 0 0
Cash paid for settlement of foreign currency contracts (54,524) 0 0
Other 0 228 (745)
Net cash used in investing activities (752,464) (231,853) (101,953)
Cash flows from financing activities:      
Proceeds from Bridge Facility 400,000 150,000 0
Repayments on Bridge Facility (550,000) 0 0
Proceeds from Revolver 135,000 0 0
Proceeds from IPO, net of fees 623,970 0 0
Proceeds from 2022 Senior Notes, net of discount 799,899 0 0
Repayments on 2022 Senior Notes (6,800) 0 0
Repayments of system debt financing (475,901) (8,693) (4,922)
Proceeds from system debt financing 50,476 224,023 89,025
Net SunEdison investment 73,786 5,930 48,066
Proceeds from Private Placement, net of fee 549,147 0 0
Proceeds from loans from SunEdison and affiliates 0 3,951 2,580
Payment of dividends (19,887) 0 0
Payment of deferred financing costs (42,731) (9,692) (16,110)
Net cash provided by financing activities 1,536,959 365,519 118,639
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 794,116 148,726 (286)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (22,316) (1,728) (576)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 150,146 3,148 4,010
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 921,946 150,146 3,148
Supplemental disclosures:      
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized of $1,780, $1,623 and $633, respectively 73,837 22,754 8,784
Schedule of non-cash activities:      
Additions to power plants in due to SunEdison, net 5,265 2,100 14,801
Additions of asset retirement obligation (“ARO”) assets and liabilities 863 2,930 1,733
ARO assets and obligations from acquisitions 3,690 0 0
Decrease in due to SunEdison, net in exchange for equity 76,362 0 0
Long-term debt assumed in connection with acquisitions 470,963 0 0
Viability Gap Funding subsidies receivable 17,910 0 0
Class A Common Stock      
Schedule of non-cash activities:      
Issuance of Class A common stock in connection with acquisitions of power plants 189,384 0 0
Class B Common Stock      
Schedule of non-cash activities:      
Non-controlling interest in Global LLC (Class B units) issued in connection with the initial public offering $ 463,859 $ 0 $ 0