Unaudited Quarterly Supplemental Financial Information - Statements of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								6 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Jan. 01, 2019
Revenue	$ 213,543	$ 224,307	$ 200,326	$ 147,001	$ 157,145	$ 168,619	$ 138,302	$ 168,582	$ 347,327	$ 306,884	$ 571,634	$ 475,503	$ 785,177	$ 632,648	$ 365,623
Cost of revenue	188,595	181,582	171,976	145,437	150,224	141,209	111,318	124,147	317,413	235,465	498,995	376,674	687,590	526,898	381,934
Additional paid-in capital	2,686,759	2,647,874	2,604,034	2,552,011	2,481,352	2,388,116	166,805	158,605	2,604,034	166,805	2,647,874	2,388,116	2,686,759	2,481,352		$ 2,481,352
Gross profit (loss)	24,948	42,725	28,350	1,564	6,921	27,410	26,984	44,435	29,914	71,419	72,639	98,829	97,587	105,750	(16,311)
Research and development	22,148	23,389	29,772	28,859	32,970	27,021	14,413	14,731	58,631	29,144	82,020	56,165	104,168	89,135	51,146
Sales and marketing	17,357	17,649	18,194	20,373	24,951	21,396	8,167	8,293	38,567	16,460	56,216	37,856	73,573	62,807	31,926
General and administrative	33,315	36,599	43,662	39,074	47,471	40,999	15,359	14,988	82,736	30,347	119,335	71,346	152,650	118,817	55,689
Total operating expenses	72,820	77,637	91,628	88,306	105,392	89,416	37,939	38,012	179,934	75,951	257,571	165,367	330,391	270,759	138,761
Loss from operations	(47,872)	(34,912)	(63,278)	(86,742)	(98,471)	(62,006)	(10,955)	6,423	(150,020)	(4,532)	(184,932)	(66,538)	(232,804)	(165,009)	(155,072)
Interest income	862	1,214	1,700	1,885	1,996	1,467	444	415	3,585	859	4,799	2,326	5,661	4,322	759
Interest expense	(21,635)	(21,323)	(22,722)	(21,800)	(21,757)	(22,125)	(27,147)	(25,992)	(44,522)	(53,139)	(65,845)	(75,264)	(87,480)	(97,021)	(112,039)
Interest expense to related parties	(1,933)	(1,605)	(1,606)	(1,612)	(1,628)	(1,966)	(2,672)	(2,627)	(3,218)	(5,299)	(4,823)	(7,265)	(6,756)	(8,893)	(12,265)
Other income (expense), net	138	525	(222)	265	636	(705)	(855)	(75)	43	(930)	568	(1,635)	706	(999)	(491)
Gain (loss) on revaluation of warrant liabilities and embedded derivatives	(540)	(540)	(540)	(540)	192	900	(19,197)	(4,034)	(1,080)	(23,231)	(1,620)	(22,331)	(2,160)	(22,139)	(15,284)
Loss before income taxes	(70,980)	(56,641)	(86,668)	(108,544)	(119,032)	(84,435)	(60,382)	(25,890)	(195,212)	(86,272)	(251,853)	(170,707)	(322,833)	(289,739)	(294,392)
Income tax provision	31	136	258	208	1,079	(3)	128	333	466	461	602	458	633	1,537	636
Net loss	(71,011)	(56,777)	(86,926)	(108,752)	(120,111)	(84,432)	(60,510)	(26,223)	(195,678)	(86,733)	(252,455)	(171,165)	(323,466)	(291,276)	(295,028)
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests	(5,178)	(5,027)	(5,015)	(3,832)	(4,662)	(3,930)	(4,512)	(4,632)	(8,847)	(9,144)	(13,874)	(13,074)	(19,052)	(17,736)	(18,666)
Net loss available to Class A and Class B common stockholders	(65,833)	(51,750)	(81,911)	(104,920)	(115,449)	(80,502)	(55,998)	(21,591)	(186,831)	(77,589)	(238,581)	(158,091)	(304,414)	(273,540)	(276,362)
Less: deemed dividend to noncontrolling interest	(2,454)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0					(2,454)	0	0
Net loss available to Class A and Class B common stockholders	$ (68,287)	$ (51,750)	$ (81,911)	$ (104,920)	$ (115,449)	$ (80,502)	$ (55,998)	$ (21,591)					$ (306,868)	$ (273,540)	$ (276,362)
Net loss per share attributable to Class A and Class B common stockholders, basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.58)	$ (0.44)	$ (0.72)	$ (0.94)	$ (1.06)	$ (0.99)	$ (5.31)	$ (2.08)					$ (2.67)	$ (5.14)	$ (26.97)
Weighted average shares used to compute net loss per share attributable to Class A and Class B common stockholders, basic and diluted (in shares)	118,588	116,330	113,624	111,842	109,416	81,321	10,536	10,404					115,118	53,268	10,248
Stock-based compensation				$ 67,822				$ 8,147	119,186	15,481	160,233	76,674	$ 196,291	$ 168,482	$ 29,101
Product
Revenue	$ 158,427	$ 163,902	$ 144,081	90,926	$ 103,937	$ 102,433	$ 78,497	115,771	235,007	194,268	398,909	296,701	557,336	400,638	157,192
Cost of revenue	141,782	91,697	113,228	88,772	86,154	69,053	49,603	76,465	202,000	126,068	293,697	195,121	435,479	281,275	192,361
Installation
Revenue	14,429	21,102	13,076	12,219	11,066	24,691	19,643	12,795	25,295	32,438	46,397	57,129	60,826	68,195	57,937
Cost of revenue	16,901	26,141	17,685	15,760	20,651	35,506	29,951	9,198	33,445	39,149	59,586	74,655	76,487	95,306	54,970
Service
Revenue	25,628	23,665	23,026	23,467	21,778	21,056	20,299	20,134	46,493	40,433	70,158	61,489	95,786	83,267	74,892
Cost of revenue	17,127	36,427	18,763	27,921	31,818	24,470	19,702	24,699	46,684	44,401	83,111	68,871	100,238	100,689	85,128
Electricity
Revenue	15,059	15,638	20,143	20,389	20,364	20,439	19,863	19,882	40,532	39,745	56,170	60,184	71,229	80,548	75,602
Cost of revenue	12,785	27,317	22,300	12,984	11,601	12,180	12,062	13,785	35,284	25,847	62,601	38,027	75,386	49,628	49,475
Previously Reported
Revenue		233,471	233,782	200,707	213,606	190,190	168,881	169,361	434,489	338,242	667,960	528,432		742,038	375,996
Cost of revenue		180,006	192,109	184,952	196,358	166,805	136,110	125,695	377,061	261,805	557,067	428,610		624,968	394,040
Additional paid-in capital		2,647,118	2,603,279	2,551,256	2,480,597	2,387,361	166,805	158,605	2,603,279	166,805	2,647,118	2,387,361		2,480,597
Gross profit (loss)		53,465	41,673	15,755	17,248	23,385	32,771	43,666	57,428	76,437	110,893	99,822		117,070	(18,044)
Research and development		23,389	29,772	28,859	32,970	27,021	14,413	14,731	58,631	29,144	82,020	56,165		89,135	51,146
Sales and marketing		18,125	18,359	20,463	24,983	21,476	8,254	8,262	38,822	16,516	56,947	37,992		62,975	32,415
General and administrative		36,599	43,662	39,074	47,471	40,999	15,359	14,988	82,736	30,347	119,335	71,346		118,817	55,674
Total operating expenses		78,113	91,793	88,396	105,424	89,496	38,026	37,981	180,189	76,007	258,302	165,503		270,927	139,235
Loss from operations		(24,648)	(50,120)	(72,641)	(88,176)	(66,111)	(5,255)	5,685	(122,761)	430	(147,409)	(65,681)		(153,857)	(157,279)
Interest income		1,214	1,700	1,885	1,996	1,467	444	415	3,585	859	4,799	2,326		4,322	759
Interest expense		(15,280)	(16,725)	(15,962)	(16,178)	(16,853)	(22,525)	(21,379)	(32,687)	(43,904)	(47,967)	(60,757)
Interest expense to related parties		(1,605)	(1,606)	(1,612)	(1,628)	(1,966)	(2,672)	(2,627)	(3,218)	(5,299)	(4,823)	(7,265)		(8,893)	(12,265)
Other income (expense), net		525	(222)	265	636	(705)	(855)	(75)	43	(930)	568	(1,635)		(999)	(491)
Gain (loss) on revaluation of warrant liabilities and embedded derivatives		0	0	0	(14)	1,655	(19,197)	(4,034)	0	(23,231)	0	(21,576)		(21,590)	(14,995)
Loss before income taxes		(39,794)	(66,973)	(88,065)	(103,364)	(82,513)	(50,060)	(22,015)	(155,038)	(72,075)	(194,832)	(154,588)		(257,952)	(280,629)
Income tax provision		136	258	208	1,079	(3)	128	333	466	461	602	458		1,537	636
Net loss		(39,930)	(67,231)	(88,273)	(104,443)	(82,510)	(50,188)	(22,348)	(155,504)	(72,536)	(195,434)	(155,046)		(259,489)	(281,265)
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests		(5,027)	(5,015)	(3,832)	(4,662)	(3,930)	(4,512)	(4,632)	(8,847)	(9,144)	(13,874)	(13,074)		(17,736)	(18,666)
Net loss available to Class A and Class B common stockholders		(34,903)	(62,216)	(84,441)	(99,781)	(78,580)	(45,676)	(17,716)	(146,657)	(63,392)	(181,560)	(141,972)
Net loss available to Class A and Class B common stockholders														$ (241,753)	$ (262,599)
Net loss per share attributable to Class A and Class B common stockholders, basic and diluted (in dollars per share)														$ (4.54)	$ (25.62)
Stock-based compensation				63,882				7,956	115,100	15,773	154,955	87,451		$ 180,284	$ 30,479
Previously Reported | Product
Revenue		182,616	179,899	141,734	156,671	125,690	108,654	121,307	321,633	229,961	504,249	355,651		512,322	179,768
Cost of revenue		94,056	131,952	124,000	128,076	95,357	70,802	80,355	255,952	151,157	350,008	246,514		374,590	210,773
Previously Reported | Installation
Revenue		19,010	17,285	22,258	21,363	29,690	26,245	14,118	39,543	40,363	58,553	70,053		91,416	63,226
Cost of revenue		26,162	22,116	24,166	31,819	40,118	37,099	10,438	46,282	47,537	72,444	87,655		119,474	59,929
Previously Reported | Service
Revenue		23,597	23,659	23,290	21,752	20,751	19,975	19,907	46,949	39,882	70,546	60,633		82,385	76,904
Cost of revenue		36,539	19,599	27,557	28,475	22,651	19,260	24,253	47,156	43,513	83,695	66,164		94,639	83,597
Previously Reported | Electricity
Revenue		8,248	12,939	13,425	13,820	14,059	14,007	14,029	26,364	28,036	34,612	42,095		55,915	56,098
Cost of revenue		23,249	18,442	9,229	7,988	8,679	8,949	10,649	27,671	19,598	50,920	28,277		36,265	39,741
Restatement Adjustment
Revenue		4,859	(22,039)	(52,976)	(56,461)	(21,571)	(30,579)	(779)	(75,015)	(31,358)	(70,156)	(52,929)		(109,390)	(10,373)
Cost of revenue		4,035	(18,658)	(38,300)	(46,134)	(25,596)	(24,792)	(1,548)	(56,958)	(26,340)	(52,923)	(51,936)		(98,070)	(12,106)
Additional paid-in capital		756	755	755	755	755	0	0	755	0	756	755		755
Gross profit (loss)		824	(3,381)	(14,676)	(10,327)	4,025	(5,787)	769	(18,057)	(5,018)	(17,233)	(993)		(11,320)	1,733
Research and development		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0
Sales and marketing		43	17	2	(32)	(80)	(87)	31	19	(56)	62	(136)		(168)	(489)
General and administrative		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	15
Total operating expenses		43	17	2	(32)	(80)	(87)	31	19	(56)	62	(136)		(168)	(474)
Loss from operations		781	(3,398)	(14,678)	(10,295)	4,105	(5,700)	738	(18,076)	(4,962)	(17,295)	(857)		(11,152)	2,207
Interest income		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0
Interest expense		(6,043)	(5,997)	(5,838)	(5,579)	(5,272)	(4,622)	(4,613)	(11,835)	(9,235)	(17,878)	(14,507)
Interest expense to related parties		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0
Other income (expense), net		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0
Gain (loss) on revaluation of warrant liabilities and embedded derivatives		(540)	(540)	(540)	206	(755)	0	0	(1,080)	0	(1,620)	(755)		(549)	(289)
Loss before income taxes		(5,802)	(9,935)	(21,056)	(15,668)	(1,922)	(10,322)	(3,875)	(30,991)	(14,197)	(36,793)	(16,119)		(31,787)	(13,763)
Income tax provision		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0
Net loss		(5,802)	(9,935)	(21,056)	(15,668)	(1,922)	(10,322)	(3,875)	(30,991)	(14,197)	(36,793)	(16,119)		(31,787)	(13,763)
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0
Net loss available to Class A and Class B common stockholders		(5,802)	(9,935)	(21,056)	(15,668)	(1,922)	(10,322)	(3,875)	(30,991)	(14,197)	(36,793)	(16,119)
Net loss available to Class A and Class B common stockholders														(31,787)	(13,763)
Stock-based compensation				3,940				191	4,086	(292)	5,278	(10,777)		(11,802)	(1,378)
Restatement Adjustment | Product
Revenue		(1,292)	(22,757)	(48,171)	(52,734)	(23,257)	(30,157)	(5,536)	(70,928)	(35,693)	(72,220)	(58,950)		(111,684)	(22,576)
Cost of revenue		(2,085)	(19,005)	(34,980)	(41,922)	(26,304)	(21,199)	(3,890)	(53,985)	(25,089)	(56,070)	(51,393)		(93,315)	(18,412)
Restatement Adjustment | Installation
Revenue		(460)	(5,900)	(11,195)	(10,297)	(4,999)	(6,602)	(1,323)	(17,095)	(7,925)	(17,555)	(12,924)		(23,221)	(5,289)
Cost of revenue		(21)	(4,431)	(8,406)	(11,168)	(4,612)	(7,148)	(1,240)	(12,837)	(8,388)	(12,858)	(13,000)		(24,168)	(4,959)
Restatement Adjustment | Service
Revenue		(779)	(586)	(574)	26	305	324	227	(1,160)	551	(1,939)	856		882	(2,012)
Cost of revenue		2,073	920	1,331	3,343	1,819	442	446	2,251	888	4,324	2,707		6,050	1,531
Restatement Adjustment | Electricity
Revenue		7,390	7,204	6,964	6,544	6,380	5,856	5,853	14,168	11,709	21,558	18,089		24,633	19,504
Cost of revenue		4,068	3,858	3,755	3,613	3,501	3,113	3,136	7,613	6,249	11,681	9,750		13,363	9,734
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606
Revenue		238,330	211,743	147,731					359,474		597,804		819,746
Cost of revenue		184,041	173,451	146,652					320,103		504,144		694,719
Additional paid-in capital	2,686,759	2,647,874	2,604,034	2,552,011	2,481,352				2,604,034		2,647,874		2,686,759	2,481,352
Gross profit (loss)		54,289	38,292	1,079					39,371		93,660		125,027
Research and development		23,389	29,772	28,859					58,631		82,020		104,168
Sales and marketing		18,168	18,376	20,465					38,841		57,009		74,973
General and administrative		36,599	43,662	39,074					82,736		119,335		152,650
Total operating expenses		78,156	91,810	88,398					180,208		258,364		331,791
Loss from operations		(23,867)	(53,518)	(87,319)					(140,837)		(164,704)		(206,764)
Interest income		1,214	1,700	1,885					3,585		4,799		5,661
Interest expense		(21,323)	(22,722)	(21,800)					(44,522)		(65,845)		(87,480)
Interest expense to related parties		(1,605)	(1,606)	(1,612)					(3,218)		(4,823)		(6,756)
Other income (expense), net		525	(222)	265					43		568		706
Gain (loss) on revaluation of warrant liabilities and embedded derivatives		(540)	(540)	(540)					(1,080)		(1,620)		(2,160)
Loss before income taxes		(45,596)	(76,908)	(109,121)					(186,029)		(231,625)		(296,793)
Income tax provision		136	258	208					466		602		633
Net loss		(45,732)	(77,166)	(109,329)					(186,495)		(232,227)		(297,426)
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests		(5,027)	(5,015)	(3,832)					(8,847)		(13,874)		(19,052)
Net loss available to Class A and Class B common stockholders		(40,705)	(72,151)	(105,497)					(177,648)		(218,353)		(278,374)
Less: deemed dividend to noncontrolling interest													(2,454)
Net loss available to Class A and Class B common stockholders													$ (280,828)
Net loss per share attributable to Class A and Class B common stockholders, basic and diluted (in dollars per share)													$ (2.44)
Stock-based compensation				67,822					119,186		160,233
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | Product
Revenue		181,324	157,142	93,563					250,705		432,029		$ 601,857
Cost of revenue		91,971	112,947	89,020					201,967		293,938		436,064
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | Installation
Revenue		18,550	11,385	11,063					22,448		40,998		54,716
Cost of revenue		26,141	17,685	15,760					33,445		59,586		76,487
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | Service
Revenue		22,818	23,073	22,716					45,789		68,607		91,944
Cost of revenue		38,612	20,519	28,888					49,407		88,019		106,782
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 | Electricity
Revenue		15,638	20,143	20,389					40,532		56,170		71,229
Cost of revenue		27,317	22,300	12,984					35,284		62,601		$ 75,386
Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606
Revenue		(14,023)	(11,417)	(730)					(12,147)		(26,170)
Cost of revenue		(2,459)	(1,475)	(1,215)					(2,690)		(5,149)
Additional paid-in capital		0	0	0					0		0
Gross profit (loss)		(11,564)	(9,942)	485					(9,457)		(21,021)
Research and development		0	0	0					0		0
Sales and marketing		(519)	(182)	(92)					(274)		(793)
General and administrative		0	0	0					0		0
Total operating expenses		(519)	(182)	(92)					(274)		(793)
Loss from operations		(11,045)	(9,760)	577					(9,183)		(20,228)
Interest income		0	0	0					0		0
Interest expense		0	0	0					0		0
Interest expense to related parties		0	0	0					0		0
Other income (expense), net		0	0	0					0		0
Gain (loss) on revaluation of warrant liabilities and embedded derivatives		0	0	0					0		0
Loss before income taxes		(11,045)	(9,760)	577					(9,183)		(20,228)
Income tax provision		0	0	0					0		0
Net loss		(11,045)	(9,760)	577					(9,183)		(20,228)
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests		0	0	0					0		0
Net loss available to Class A and Class B common stockholders		(11,045)	(9,760)	577					(9,183)		(20,228)
Stock-based compensation				0					0		0
Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 | Product
Revenue		(17,422)	(13,061)	(2,637)					(15,698)		(33,120)
Cost of revenue		(274)	281	(248)					33		(241)
Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 | Installation
Revenue		2,552	1,691	1,156					2,847		5,399
Cost of revenue		0	0	0					0		0
Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 | Service
Revenue		847	(47)	751					704		1,551
Cost of revenue		(2,185)	(1,756)	(967)					(2,723)		(4,908)
Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 | Electricity
Revenue		0	0	0					0		0
Cost of revenue		0	0	0					0		0
Grid Pricing Escalation | Restatement Adjustment
Gain (loss) on revaluation of warrant liabilities and embedded derivatives		540	540	540	(205)				1,081		1,621			(205)	288
Grid Pricing Escalation | Restatement Adjustment | Service
Revenue															3,082
Cost of revenue		(123)	(104)	(94)	(463)				(198)		(321)			(463)	(261)
Depreciation Of Energy Servers | Restatement Adjustment | Product
Cost of revenue	(37,092)	(1,081)	(18,127)	(37,496)		(14,001)	(20,274)	(3,635)	(55,623)	(23,909)	(56,704)	(37,910)		(75,001)	(15,244)
Depreciation Of Energy Servers | Restatement Adjustment | Installation
Cost of revenue	(12,087)	(601)	(5,230)	(9,165)		(4,611)	(7,148)	(1,240)	(14,395)	(8,388)	(14,996)	(13,000)		(25,087)	(4,959)
Depreciation Of Energy Servers | Restatement Adjustment | Electricity
Cost of revenue	3,590	4,022	3,816	3,718		3,490	3,105	3,128	7,533	6,232	11,555	9,722		13,312	9,717
Immaterial Misstatements | Restatement Adjustment
Cost of revenue														900
Immaterial Misstatements | Restatement Adjustment | Installation
Cost of revenue		580	799	759	885				1,558		2,138
Capitalized Stock-Based Compensation | Restatement Adjustment
Stock-based compensation				4,400				(602)	4,672	(1,026)	5,864	(10,068)		(10,256)	(634)
Capitalized Stock-Based Compensation | Restatement Adjustment | Product
Cost of revenue	(4,830)	(1,004)	(879)	2,515		(12,304)	(925)	(256)	1,637	(1,181)	633	(13,484)		(18,314)	(3,169)
Capitalized Stock-Based Compensation | Restatement Adjustment | Service
Cost of revenue	$ 3,805	2,196	$ 1,025	1,425		1,819	$ 441	447	2,450	888	4,646	2,707		6,513	1,791
Valuation Adjustment | Restatement Adjustment
Additional paid-in capital		$ (755)			$ 755	$ 755					(755)	755		755
Capitalized Stock-Based Compensation, Managed Services Program | Restatement Adjustment
Stock-based compensation				$ (460)				$ 793	$ (586)	$ 733	$ (586)	$ (709)		$ (1,546)	$ (744)