Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2016	Jan. 01, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Revenue related to sales-type leases		$ 2,300	$ 2,300	$ 2,900
Total revenue		$ 972,176	794,247	$ 785,177
ITC recapture period		5 years
ITC recaptured amount		$ 0	0
Goodwill		1,957	0
Accumulated deficit		(3,263,075)	(3,103,937)
Decrease in additional paid-in capital		3,219,081	3,182,753
Non-recourse long term debt, non-current	[1]	$ 217,416	$ 102,045
2.5% Green Convertible Senior Notes due August 2025 | Senior secured notes
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Interest Rate		2.50%	2.50%				2.50%
2.5% Green Convertible Senior Notes due August 2025 | Senior secured notes | Accounting Standards Update 2020-06
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Accumulated deficit						$ 5,300
Decrease in additional paid-in capital						126,800
Non-recourse long term debt, non-current						$ 121,500
Convertible Promissory Notes Interest Rate 6% Due December 2020, Recourse | Convertible promissory notes | Affiliated entity
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Interest Rate				6.00%
Stock options and awards
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Requisite service period		4 years
PPA Entities
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Non-recourse long term debt, non-current		$ 217,417	$ 102,045
PPA Company 2 | PPA Entities
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Amount possible for indemnification				$ 108,700
Minimum
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Term of PPA		10 years
Term during which the Company is responsible for the installation, operation and maintenance of the Energy Servers		10 years
Incentives received by the Company					1.00%
Minimum | Restricted Stock Units
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Requisite service period		3 years
Minimum | PSUs
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Requisite service period		1 year
Maximum
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Term of PPA		21 years
Term during which the Company is responsible for the installation, operation and maintenance of the Energy Servers		15 years
Incentives received by the Company					10.00%
Maximum | Restricted Stock Units
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Requisite service period		4 years
Maximum | PSUs
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Requisite service period		3 years
Electricity
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Operating lease, lease income		$ 65,318	63,023	60,389
Total revenue		68,421	64,094	71,229
Service
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Total revenue		144,184	109,633	95,786
Power generation | Electricity sales
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Total revenue				11,300
Power generation | Service revenue
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Total revenue				6,800
Power Purchase Agreement Program Leases | Electricity
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Operating lease, lease income		28,600	27,700	29,700
Power Purchase Agreement Program Leases | Service
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Operating lease, lease income		$ 14,600	$ 13,800	$ 14,600

[1] We have variable interest entities, which represent a portion of the consolidated balances recorded within these financial statement line items in the consolidated balance sheets (see Note 11 - Portfolio Financings).