Stockholders' Equity - Narrative (Details)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands
 5 Months Ended 7 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Feb. 29, 2016
$ / shares
Nov. 10, 2015
$ / shares
Aug. 05, 2015
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Jun. 09, 2015
USD ($)
May 06, 2015
USD ($)
Jul. 23, 2014
USD ($)
shares
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Aug. 05, 2015
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
vote
$ / shares
shares
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Dec. 31, 2013
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2015
Class of Stock [Line Items]                        
Preferred stock par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares             $ 0.01   $ 0.01 $ 0.01    
Proceeds from sale of stock                 $ 623,970 $ 0 $ 0  
Proceeds from Private Placement, net of fee     $ 549,100           $ 549,147 $ 0 $ 0  
New issuances of common stock             $ 5,541          
Equity reallocation             0          
IPO                        
Class of Stock [Line Items]                        
New issuances of common stock             589,078          
Private Placement                        
Class of Stock [Line Items]                        
New issuances of common stock             $ 63,129 $ 486,017        
Class A Common Stock                        
Class of Stock [Line Items]                        
Common stock authorized (in shares) | shares     2,750,000,000       2,750,000,000 2,750,000,000 2,750,000,000 0    
Common stock par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares     $ 0.01       $ 0.01 $ 0.01 $ 0.01 $ 0    
Number of voting rights per share | vote                 1      
Common stock issued (in dollars per share) | $ / shares     $ 15         $ 15        
Gross proceeds from IPO           $ 675,000            
Proceeds from sale of stock     $ 619,100                  
Treasury shares held (in shares) | shares             5,244   5,244      
Common stock dividends declared (in dollars per share) | $ / shares   $ 0.1704                    
Common stock dividends declared, annualized (in dollars per share) | $ / shares   $ 1.10                    
Class A Common Stock | Subsequent event                        
Class of Stock [Line Items]                        
Common stock dividends declared (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 0.275                      
Common stock dividends declared, annualized (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 1.10                      
Class A Common Stock | IPO                        
Class of Stock [Line Items]                        
New issuances of common stock (in shares) | shares           45,000,000            
Class A Common Stock | Private Placement                        
Class of Stock [Line Items]                        
New issuances of common stock (in shares) | shares     36,471,710                  
Class A Common Stock | Concurrent Private Placement                        
Class of Stock [Line Items]                        
New issuances of common stock (in shares) | shares     4,500,000                  
New issuances of common stock     $ 67,500                  
Class B Common Stock                        
Class of Stock [Line Items]                        
Common stock authorized (in shares) | shares     200,000,000       200,000,000 200,000,000 200,000,000 0    
Common stock par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares     $ 0.01       $ 0.01 $ 0.01 $ 0.01 $ 0    
Number of voting rights per share | vote                 100      
Class B1 common stock                        
Class of Stock [Line Items]                        
Common stock authorized (in shares) | shares     550,000,000       550,000,000 550,000,000 550,000,000 0    
Common stock par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares     $ 0.01       $ 0.01 $ 0.01 $ 0.01 $ 0    
Preferred stock                        
Class of Stock [Line Items]                        
Common stock authorized (in shares) | shares     50,000,000         50,000,000        
Preferred stock par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares     $ 0.01         $ 0.01        
Global LLC                        
Class of Stock [Line Items]                        
Ownership percentage by parent             65.10%   65.10%     65.10%
Global LLC | Class D units                        
Class of Stock [Line Items]                        
Proceeds from Private Placement, net of fee       $ 335,000 $ 175,000              
SunEdison                        
Class of Stock [Line Items]                        
Ownership percentage by other entities             34.90%   34.90%     34.90%
Additional Paid-in Capital                        
Class of Stock [Line Items]                        
Equity reallocation             $ 124,359          
Additional Paid-in Capital | IPO                        
Class of Stock [Line Items]                        
New issuances of common stock             588,648          
Additional Paid-in Capital | Private Placement                        
Class of Stock [Line Items]                        
New issuances of common stock             $ 63,084