Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015	Mar. 30, 2014
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	$ (29,050)	$ 43,034
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	28,563	25,371
Stock-based compensation	13,546	14,867
Non-cash interest expense	4,680	5,170
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated investees	(2,191)	(1,783)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation	(572)	0
Deferred income taxes and other tax liabilities	(5,078)	17,985
Other, net	855	(206)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisition:
Accounts receivable	32,735	(93,574)
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	140,970	14,009
Inventories	(108,072)	(4,043)
Project assets	(93,150)	22,491
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(25,090)	12,191
Long-term financing receivables, net	(29,198)	(32,333)
Advances to suppliers	13,903	7,263
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(51,781)	(16,972)
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	5,621	(117,009)
Customer advances	(10,099)	(2,727)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(113,408)	50,472
Cash flows from investing activities:
Increase in restricted cash and cash equivalents	(18,828)	2,293
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(24,564)	8,800
Cash paid for solar power systems, leased and to be leased	(19,403)	14,989
Cash paid for investments in unconsolidated investees	0	5,013
Net cash used in investing activities	(63,321)	(31,095)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Cash paid for repurchase of convertible debt	(324,273)	1
Proceeds from settlement of 4.75% Bond Hedge	0	68,842
Payments to settle 4.75% Warrants	0	81,077
Proceeds from settlement of 4.50% Bond Hedge	74,628	0
Proceeds from issuance of non-recourse debt financing, net of issuance costs	0	39,108
Repayment of non-recourse debt financing	(398)	0
Proceeds from issuance of project loans, net of issuance costs	89,991	0
Assumption of project loan by customer	0	40,672
Repayment of bank loans, project loans and other debt	(7,946)	7,850
Repayment of residential lease financing	(10,546)	7,213
Proceeds from sale-leaseback financing	727	16,685
Repayment of sale-leaseback financing	(90)	779
Contributions from noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests	45,890	30,552
Distributions to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests	(2,260)	1,117
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	3	68
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation	572	0
Purchases of stock for tax withholding obligations on vested restricted stock	(38,704)	43,506
Net cash used in financing activities	(172,406)	(26,960)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(5,467)	(187)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(354,602)	(7,770)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	956,175	762,511
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	601,573	754,741
Non-cash transactions:
Assignment of residential lease receivables to a third-party financial institution	1,307	1,496
Costs of solar power systems, leased and to be leased, sourced from existing inventory	14,664	7,120
Costs of solar power systems, leased and to be leased, funded by liabilities	6,388	1,634
Costs of solar power systems under sale-leaseback financing arrangements, sourced from project assets	1,050	15,269
Property, plant and equipment acquisitions funded by liabilities	$ 20,185	$ 5,544