Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended						6 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2012		Apr. 01, 2012 SolarSystem		Jul. 03, 2011		Jul. 01, 2012		Jul. 03, 2011	Jan. 01, 2012 SolarSystem		Jan. 03, 2010
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Project Financing Agreement, Maximum Capacity												$ 100,000,000
Project Financing Agreement, Minimum Lease Terms			20 years
Project Financing Arrangement, Total Solar Systems Sold			7
Project Financing Arrangement, Total Solar Systems Sold During Period										3
Power Purchase Agreement, Maximum Term			20 years
Solar Lease Terms on Equipment Previously Sold			15 years
Operating Leases Commitments [Abstract]
Capital Leases - 2012 (remaining six months)	1,038,000						1,038,000
Capital Leases - 2013	1,782,000						1,782,000
Capital Leases - 2014	1,260,000						1,260,000
Capital Leases - 2015	1,068,000						1,068,000
Capital Leases - 2016	949,000						949,000
Capital Leases - Thereafter	3,336,000						3,336,000
Capital Leases - Future Minimum Payments Due	9,433,000						9,433,000
Operating Leases - 2012 (remaining six months)	8,445,000						8,445,000
Operating Leases - 2013	15,709,000						15,709,000
Operating Leases - 2014	13,239,000						13,239,000
Operating Leases - 2015	12,143,000						12,143,000
Operating Leases - 2016	11,486,000						11,486,000
Operating Leases - Thereafter	57,017,000						57,017,000
Operating Leases - Future Minimum Payments Due	118,039,000						118,039,000
Purchase Commitments [Abstract]
Purchase Commitments, Supply and Price Period			10 years
Purchase Commitments
2012	643,823,000						643,823,000
2013	327,259,000						327,259,000
2014	444,778,000						444,778,000
2015	376,855,000						376,855,000
2016	324,996,000						324,996,000
Thereafter	711,116,000						711,116,000
Total future purchase commitments	2,828,827,000						2,828,827,000
Total obligations related to non-cancellable orders	200,000,000						200,000,000
Long-term supply agreements with suppliers							2,600,000,000
Commitments to non-consolidated joint ventures	100,000,000						100,000,000
Net cashflows offset, price paid by suppliers for polysilicon, minimum	45,600,000						45,600,000
Product Warranties [Abstract]
Standard Product Warranty Term, Solar Panels			25 years
Industry Standard Product Warranty Term, Solar Panels			25 years
Standard Product Warranty Term, Inverter, Minimum			5 years
Standard Product Warranty Term, Inverter, Maximum			10 years
Standard Product Warranty Term, Worksmanship			10 years
Movement in Standard and Extended Product Warranty, Increase (Decrease) [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	102,839,000	[1]	94,323,000	[1]	70,119,000	[1]	94,323,000	[1]	63,562,000	63,562,000
Accruals for warranties issued during the period	3,857,000				10,629,000		13,305,000		18,368,000
Settlements made during the period	2,257,000				1,487,000		(3,189,000)		2,669,000
Balance at the end of the period	104,439,000		102,839,000	[1]	79,261,000		104,439,000		79,261,000	94,323,000	[1]
Liabilities Associated with Uncertain Tax Positions
Unrecognized tax benefits	$ 32,043,000						$ 32,043,000			$ 29,256,000

[1] As adjusted to reflect the balances of Tenesol beginning October 10, 2011, as required under the accounting guidelines for a transfer of an entity under common control (see Note 3).