Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 144,326	$ (165,615)	$ (416,112)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion	130,736	115,313	230,940
Impairments and net losses on disposal of long-lived assets	8,065	35,364	838,467
Share-based compensation	34,154	35,121	28,712
Equity in earnings, net of tax	(34,620)	(4,266)	(144,306)
Distributions received from equity method investments	12,394	23,042	18,562
Remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilities	8,740	(15,823)	5,442
Deferred income taxes	(10,112)	173,368	90,555
Gains on sales of marketable securities and restricted investments	(55,405)	(49)	(41,632)
Noncash consideration from the sale of systems	0	0	(20,091)
Liabilities assumed by customers for the sale of systems	(240,865)	(24,203)	0
Other, net	2,121	2,339	13,863
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable, trade, unbilled and retainage	(202,298)	85,760	178,894
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(53,488)	26,680	9,269
Inventories and balance of systems parts	(257,229)	212,758	95,785
Project assets and PV solar power systems	49,939	981,273	(571,655)
Other assets	(11,920)	(1,269)	(19,245)
Income tax receivable and payable	(49,169)	169,079	(61,383)
Accounts payable	96,443	(47,191)	(191,642)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	132,382	(258,028)	158,693
Accrued solar module collection and recycling liability	(31,003)	(2,976)	3,637
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(326,809)	1,340,677	206,753
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(739,838)	(514,357)	(229,452)
Purchases of marketable securities and restricted investments	(1,369,036)	(580,971)	(422,609)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of marketable securities and restricted investments	1,135,984	466,309	525,515
Proceeds from sales of equity method investments	247,595	0	291,502
Payments received on notes receivable, affiliates	48,729	1,740	3,053
Other investing activities	(6,148)	477	(23,489)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(682,714)	(626,802)	144,520
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of borrowings under revolving credit facility	0	0	(550,000)
Proceeds from borrowings under revolving credit facility	0	0	550,000
Repayment of long-term debt	(18,937)	(24,078)	(137,367)
Proceeds from borrowings under long-term debt, net of discounts and issuance costs	290,925	215,415	26,816
Payments of tax withholdings for restricted shares	(11,175)	(5,137)	(20,407)
Proceeds from commercial letters of credit	0	43,025	0
Contingent consideration payments and other financing activities	(5,585)	(37,180)	(5,435)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	255,228	192,045	(136,393)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(13,558)	8,866	(6,306)
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(767,853)	914,786	208,574
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of the period	2,330,476	1,415,690	1,207,116
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of the period	1,562,623	2,330,476	1,415,690
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Property, plant and equipment acquisitions funded by liabilities	138,270	164,946	28,687
Sale of system previously accounted for as sale-leaseback financing	31,992	0	0
Acquisitions currently or previously funded by liabilities and contingent consideration	2,915	9,315	30,092
Accrued interest capitalized to long-term debt	3,512	18,401	0
Sale of equity method investment funded by note receivable, affiliate	$ 0	$ 0	$ 50,000