Debt and Credit Sources (Details)		1 Months Ended				3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2018 USD ($)	Jan. 03, 2016 USD ($) shares	Jun. 29, 2014 USD ($) shares	May 31, 2013 USD ($) shares $ / shares	May 31, 2010 USD ($) installment	Apr. 02, 2017 USD ($)	Oct. 01, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares shares		Jan. 01, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 03, 2016 USD ($)	Oct. 02, 2016 USD ($)	Apr. 03, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 28, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013 $ / shares	Feb. 28, 2012 $ / shares shares
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face value								$ 1,621,766,000		$ 1,650,094,000
Short-term								356,816,000		70,013,000
Long-term								1,244,126,000		1,561,574,000
Debt instruments, carrying value								1,600,942,000		1,631,587,000
Net Contributions from non-controlling interests								178,400,000		127,300,000
Sale Leaseback Transaction, Other Payments Required								176,069,000		795,209,000	$ 238,744,000
Convertible Debt [Abstract]
Convertible debt, current portion1								299,685,000
Convertible Debt, Noncurrent								816,454,000	[1]	1,113,478,000
Debt instrument, face value								1,621,766,000		1,650,094,000
Repayments of Convertible Debt								0		0	324,352,000
Non-cash interest expense								18,390,000		1,057,000	6,184,000
Proceeds from settlement of 4.50% Bond Hedge								0		$ 0	74,628,000
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Increase (Decrease) for Period, Description										4662
Proceeds from issuance of non-recourse residential financing, net of issuance costs								89,612,000		$ 183,990,000	100,108,000
Proceeds from (Repayments of) Debt								527,897,000		738,822,000	441,775,000
Repayments of Debt								(6,888,000)		(37,932,000)	(41,503,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest - leasing operations								91,200,000		74,900,000
Noncontrolling interests								119,415,000		183,109,000
Assumption of project loan by customer								196,104,000		0	0
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2017								357,132,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two								15,835,000
2019								14,710,000
2020								415,641,000
2021								38,290,000
Thereafter								780,158,000
Debt instrument, face value								$ 1,621,766,000		1,650,094,000
Letter of Credit [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Liquidity support facility, maximum capacity														$ 25,000,000.0
Line of Credit [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Liquidity support facility, maximum capacity														200,000,000.0
CEDA Loan [Member]
Convertible Debt [Abstract]
Interest rate								8.50%
Long-term Debt [Member] | Letter of Credit [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Liquidity support facility, maximum capacity												$ 250,000,000.0		$ 300,000,000.0
El Pelicano [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instruments, carrying value								$ 0		90,474,000
Construction Revolver [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instruments, carrying value								3,240,000		10,469,000
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Proceeds from (Repayments of) Debt								(9,100,000)
Construction Revolver [Member] | Mizuho and Goldman Sachs [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Liquidity support facility, maximum capacity								200,000,000
Letter of Credit, Additional Borrowing Capacity								$ 100,000,000
Line of credit facility, basis spread on libor rate, period two								1.75%
Line of credit facility, basis spread on libor rate								1.50%
1st Amendment [Member] | Mizuho and Goldman Sachs [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Liquidity support facility, maximum capacity								$ 50,000,000
Residential Lease Program [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instruments, carrying value								356,622,000		283,852,000
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Proceeds from (Repayments of) Debt								72,400,000		111,800,000
Unsecured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face value								7,161,000		7,649,000
Convertible Debt [Abstract]
Debt instrument, face value								7,161,000		7,649,000
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Debt instrument, face value								7,161,000		7,649,000
0.875% debentures due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face value			$ 400,000,000					400,000,000		400,000,000
Short-term								0		0
Long-term								397,739,000		397,079,000
Debt instruments, carrying value								397,739,000		397,079,000
Convertible Debt [Abstract]
Debt instrument, face value			$ 400,000,000					$ 400,000,000		400,000,000
Interest rate			0.875%					0.875%
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Price | $ / shares								$ 48.76
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Debt instrument, face value			$ 400,000,000					$ 400,000,000		400,000,000
4.00% debentures due 2023 [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face value		$ 425,000,000						425,000,000		425,000,000	425,000,000
Short-term								0		0
Long-term								418,715,000		417,473,000
Debt instruments, carrying value								418,715,000		417,473,000
Convertible Debt [Abstract]
Debt instrument, face value		$ 425,000,000						$ 425,000,000		425,000,000	$ 425,000,000
Interest rate		4.00%						4.00%			4.00%
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Price | $ / shares								$ 30.53
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Debt instrument, face value		$ 425,000,000						$ 425,000,000		425,000,000	$ 425,000,000
0.75% debentures due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face value				$ 300,000,000				300,000,000		300,000,000
Short-term								299,685,000		0
Long-term								0		298,926,000
Debt instruments, carrying value								299,685,000		298,926,000
Convertible Debt [Abstract]
Debt instrument, face value				$ 300,000,000				$ 300,000,000		300,000,000
Interest rate				0.75%				0.75%
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Price | $ / shares				$ 24.95												$ 24.95
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Debt instrument, face value				$ 300,000,000				$ 300,000,000		300,000,000
4.50% debentures due 2015 [Member] | Bond Hedge [Member]
Convertible Debt [Abstract]
Interest rate															4.50%
4.75% debentures due 2014 [Member] | Bond Hedge [Member]
Convertible Debt [Abstract]
Interest rate															4.75%
Warrant or right, number of securities called by each warrant or right (in shares) | shares								11,100,000
IFC Mortgage Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face value					$ 75,000,000			$ 0		17,500,000
Short-term								0		17,121,000
Long-term								0		0
Debt instruments, carrying value								0		17,121,000
Convertible Debt [Abstract]
Debt instrument, face value					$ 75,000,000			0		17,500,000
Debt instrument, delayed repayment, deferment term					2 years
Debt instrument, number of installment payments | installment					10
Debt instrument, borrowing fee, percent of principal					1.00%
Debt instrument, commitment fee					0.50%
Debt instrument, prepayment premium					1.00%
Restricted cash and cash equivalents								0		9,200,000
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate					3.00%
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Debt instrument, face value					$ 75,000,000			0		17,500,000
CEDA Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face value								30,000,000		30,000,000
Short-term								0		0
Long-term								28,538,000		28,191,000
Debt instruments, carrying value								28,538,000		28,191,000
Convertible Debt [Abstract]
Debt instrument, face value								30,000,000		30,000,000
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Debt instrument, face value								30,000,000		30,000,000
Other Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face value								466,766,000		477,594,000
Short-term								57,131,000		52,892,000
Long-term								399,134,000		419,905,000
Debt instruments, carrying value								456,265,000		472,797,000
Convertible Debt [Abstract]
Debt instrument, face value								466,766,000		477,594,000
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Debt instrument, face value								466,766,000		477,594,000
July 2013 Credit Agricole Syndicated Revolver [Member] | Letter of Credit [Member] | Credit Agricole [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Liquidity support facility, maximum capacity								200,000,000.0
July 2013 Credit Agricole Syndicated Revolver [Member] | Line of Credit [Member] | Credit Agricole [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Line of credit facility, current borrowing capacity								250,000,000
Liquidity support facility, maximum capacity								300,000,000
Line of credit facility, basis spread on federal funds rate, period two							0.50%
Line of credit facility, basis spread on libor rate, period two							1.00%
June 2017 Credit Agricole Syndicated Revolver [Member] [Domain] | Letter of Credit [Member] | Credit Agricole [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Liquidity support facility, maximum capacity							$ 100,000,000.0	100,000,000.0
June 2017 Credit Agricole Syndicated Revolver [Member] [Domain] | Line of Credit [Member] | Credit Agricole [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Liquidity support facility, maximum capacity							$ 300,000,000
August 2016 Letter of Credit [Member] | Letter of Credit [Member] | Banco Santander [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Liquidity support facility, maximum capacity								85,000,000
Letters of Credit outstanding, amount								0
June 2016 Letter of Credit [Member] | Letter of Credit [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Equity Method Investment, Aggregate Cost								173,700,000		244,800,000
June 2016 Letter of Credit [Member] | Letter of Credit [Member] | Credit Agricole [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Liquidity support facility, maximum capacity								75,000,000.0
June 2016 Letter of Credit [Member] | Letter of Credit [Member] | Deutsche Bank [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Liquidity support facility, maximum capacity								50,000,000
Letters of Credit outstanding, amount								30,100,000		45,800,000
June 2016 Letter of Credit [Member] | Letter of Credit [Member] | Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Liquidity support facility, maximum capacity								75,000,000.0
June 2016 Letter of Credit [Member] | Letter of Credit [Member] | HSBC [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Liquidity support facility, maximum capacity								175,000,000.0
September 2011 Letter of Credit [Member] | Letter of Credit [Member] | Deutsche Bank [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Liquidity support facility, maximum capacity								200,000,000
Letters of Credit outstanding, amount								7,100,000		3,100,000
Bridge Loans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instruments, carrying value								17,068,000		6,718,000
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Proceeds from (Repayments of) Debt	$ 10,500,000							10,300,000
Residential Lease Program [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instruments, carrying value								29,245,000		29,370,000
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Proceeds from (Repayments of) Debt								0		28,500,000
Gala [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Proceeds from (Repayments of) Debt								(106,000,000)
Boulder power plant [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instruments, carrying value								28,168,000		28,775,000
Total [Member] | 0.875% debentures due 2021 [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Number of Equity Instruments | shares			5,126,775
Total [Member] | 4.00% debentures due 2023 [Member] [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Number of Equity Instruments | shares		3,275,680
Total [Member] | 0.75% debentures due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face value								200,000,000
Convertible Debt [Abstract]
Debt instrument, face value								200,000,000
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Number of Equity Instruments | shares				8,017,420
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Debt instrument, face value								$ 200,000,000
Warrant (Under the CSO2014) [Member]
Convertible Debt [Abstract]
Class of warrant or right, exercise price of warrants or rights (in dollars per share) | $ / shares								$ 24.00
Interest rate															4.75%
Upfront Warrants (held by Total) [Member] | Total [Member]
Convertible Debt [Abstract]
Warrant or right, number of securities called by each warrant or right (in shares) | shares																	9,531,677
Class of warrant or right, exercise price of warrants or rights (in dollars per share) | $ / shares																	$ 7.8685
Convertible Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face value								$ 1,125,000,000		1,125,000,000
Convertible Debt [Abstract]
Convertible Debt, Noncurrent								1,116,139,000		1,113,478,000
Debt instrument, face value								1,125,000,000		1,125,000,000
Fair Value								982,844,000		839,178,000
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Debt instrument, face value								1,125,000,000		1,125,000,000
Convertible Debt [Member] | 0.875% debentures due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face value								400,000,000		400,000,000
Convertible Debt [Abstract]
Convertible Debt, Noncurrent								397,739,000		397,079,000
Debt instrument, face value								400,000,000		400,000,000
Fair Value								315,132,000		266,996,000
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Debt instrument, face value								400,000,000		400,000,000
Convertible Debt [Member] | 4.00% debentures due 2023 [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face value								425,000,000		425,000,000
Convertible Debt [Abstract]
Convertible Debt, Noncurrent								418,715,000		417,473,000
Debt instrument, face value								425,000,000		425,000,000
Fair Value								368,399,000		301,555,000
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Debt instrument, face value								425,000,000		425,000,000
Convertible Debt [Member] | 0.75% debentures due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face value								300,000,000		300,000,000
Convertible Debt [Abstract]
Convertible Debt, Noncurrent								299,685,000		298,926,000
Debt instrument, face value								300,000,000		300,000,000
Fair Value								299,313,000		270,627,000
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Debt instrument, face value								300,000,000		300,000,000
Total [Member] | 0.875% debentures due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face value			$ 250,000,000
Convertible Debt [Abstract]
Debt instrument, face value			250,000,000
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Debt instrument, face value			$ 250,000,000
Total [Member] | 4.00% debentures due 2023 [Member] [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face value													$ 100,000,000
Convertible Debt [Abstract]
Debt instrument, face value													100,000,000
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Debt instrument, face value													$ 100,000,000
DongFang [Member] [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Equity Method Investments						$ 7,700,000
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Equity Method Investment, Aggregate Cost						$ 9,000,000
Project Entities [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Abstract]
Equity Method Investment, Aggregate Cost								$ (45,600,000)		$ 45,500,000

[1] The Company has related-party balances for transactions made with Total S.A. and its affiliates as well as unconsolidated entities in which the Company has a direct equity investment. These related-party balances are recorded within the "Accounts receivable, net," "Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings," "Project assets - plants and land, current portion," "Prepaid expenses and other current assets," "Other long-term assets," "Accounts payable," "Accrued liabilities," "Customer advances, current portion," "Convertible debt, current portion," "Convertible debt, net of current portion," "Customer advances, net of current portion," and "Other long-term liabilities" financial statement line items in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (see Note 2, Note 7, Note 9, Note 10, Note 11, and Note 12).