Note 23. Statement of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Net income (loss)	$ 396,918us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 353,038us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ (96,338)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	245,798	234,370	262,716
Impairment and net loss on disposal of long-lived assets	5,228	97,132	356,522
Impairment of project assets	433us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOngoingProject	0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOngoingProject	3,253us-gaap_ImpairmentOfOngoingProject
Share-based compensation	43,810us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	55,079us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	36,971us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilities	8,772	(15,109)	8,509
Deferred income taxes	14,068	(20,878)	14,588
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation arrangements	(31,166)	(35,076)	(27,373)
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable	0us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	2,106us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	4,471us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts
Other, net	6,296us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	(1,073)us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	(4,778)us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, trade, unbilled and retainage	453,826	564,964	(388,039)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(19,947)	109,126	(28,854)
Other assets	(5,371)	(1,684)	82,120
Inventories and balance of systems parts	(99,870)	15,394	(75,626)
Project assets and deferred project costs	141,908	(316,022)	(174,532)
Accounts payable	(52,339)	(93,259)	174,319
Income taxes payable	(989)	36,307	63,489
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(452,438)	(138,937)	506,253
Accrued solar module collection and recycling liability	26,052	10,648	44,538
Total adjustments	284,071	503,088	858,547
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 680,989	$ 856,126	$ 762,209

Increase (Decrease) in Inventory and BOS Parts

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