Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Jan. 01, 2017
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net loss		$ (917,496)	$ (1,170,868)	$ (521,415)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		127,204	185,283	170,537
Stock-based compensation		26,353	34,674	61,498
Non-cash interest expense		15,346	18,390	1,057
Non-cash restructuring charges		0	0	166,717
Gain on settlement of preexisting relationships in connection with acquisition	[1]	0	0	(203,252)
Dividend from equity method investees		3,947	30,091	6,949
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated investees		17,815	(25,938)	(14,295)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation		0	0	(2,810)
Gain on sale of equity investments, net		(54,196)	(5,346)	0
Gain on business divestitures		(59,347)	0	0
Unrealized loss on equity investments with readily determinable fair value		6,375	0	0
Deferred income taxes		(6,862)	(6,966)	(6,611)
Impairment of equity method investment		0	89,564	90,946
Goodwill impairment		0	0	147,365
Impairment of property, plant and equipment		369,168	0	0
Loss on sale and impairment of residential lease assets		251,984	624,335	(7,263)
Other, net		(6,796)	1,298	4,793
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(175)	(1,191)	(33,465)
Contract assets		(43,509)	10,660	62,161
Inventories		(39,174)	(38,236)	(70,448)
Project assets		39,512	2,393	(3,601)
Prepaid expenses and other assets		22,763	110,530	3,187
Long-term financing receivables, net		(182,937)	(123,674)	(172,272)
Advances to suppliers		44,417	68,767	74,341
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities		(127,286)	(216,349)	(18,780)
Contract liabilities		(30,495)	145,171	(47,622)
Net cash used in operating activities		(543,389)	(267,412)	(312,283)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment		(44,906)	(69,791)	(187,094)
Cash paid for solar power systems, leased and to be leased		(68,612)	(86,539)	(84,289)
Cash paid for solar power systems		(41,808)	(126,548)	(38,746)
Purchases of marketable securities		0	(1,306)	(4,955)
Cash outflow from sale of residential lease portfolio, net of cash sold		(28,004)	0	0
Proceeds from sales or maturities of marketable securities		0	0	6,210
Proceeds from sale of cost method investments		33,402	0	0
Payments to 8point3 Energy Partners LP		0	0	(9,838)
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(17,000)	0	(24,003)
Cash paid for intangibles		0	0	(521)
Dividend from equity method investees		12,952	3,773	0
Proceeds from sale of equity method investments		420,306	5,954	0
Proceeds from business divestiture		23,257	0	0
Cash paid for investments in unconsolidated investees		(14,687)	(18,627)	(11,547)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		274,900	(293,084)	(354,783)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Cash paid for acquisitions		0	0	(5,714)
Proceeds from bank loans and other debt		227,676	339,253	113,645
Repayment of 0.75% debentures due 2018, bank loans and other debt		(535,252)	(358,317)	(143,601)
Proceeds from issuance of non-recourse residential financing, net of issuance costs		192,287	89,612	183,990
Repayment of non-recourse residential financing		(17,358)	(6,888)	(37,932)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests attributable to residential projects		151,204	196,628	146,334
Distributions to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests attributable to residential projects		(21,918)	(18,228)	(19,039)
Proceeds from issuance of non-recourse power plant and commercial financing, net of issuance costs		126,020	527,897	738,822
Repayment of non-recourse power plant and commercial financing		(31,282)	(176,069)	(795,209)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests attributable to power plant and commercial projects		0	800	0
Purchases of stock for tax withholding obligations on vested restricted stock		(5,530)	(4,756)	(21,517)
Net cash provided by financing activities		85,847	589,932	159,779
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents		2,068	689	735
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents		(180,574)	30,125	(506,552)
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents, beginning of period	[2]	544,337	514,212	1,020,764
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents, end of period	[2]	363,763	544,337	514,212
Non-cash transactions:
Assignment of residential lease receivables to third parties		0	129	4,290
Stock consideration received from business divestiture		42,600	0	0
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests funded by Mezzanine Loan proceeds		12,400	0	0
Costs of solar power systems, leased and to be leased, sourced from existing inventory		36,384	57,688	57,422
Costs of solar power systems, leased and to be leased, funded by liabilities		3,631	5,527	3,026
Costs of solar power systems under sale-leaseback financing arrangements, sourced from project assets		86,540	110,375	27,971
Property, plant and equipment acquisitions funded by liabilities		8,214	15,706	43,817
Exchange of receivables for an investment in an unconsolidated investee		0	0	2,890
Acquisition funded by liabilities		9,000	0	103,354
Contractual obligations satisfied with inventory		56,840	34,675	0
Assumption of debt by buyer upon sale of equity interest		(27,321)	(196,104)	0
Assumption of mezzanine loan by SunStrong in connection with sale of residential lease assets		106,958	0	0
Assumption of back leverage loans by SunStrong in connection with sale of residential lease assets		454,630	0	0
Retained interest in SunStrong lease portfolio		9,750	0	0
Receivables in connection with sale of residential lease portfolio		12,510	0	0
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amount capitalized		99,204	59,885	35,770
Cash paid for income taxes		$ 7,800	$ 12,795	$ 35,414

[1] See Note 4. "Business Combination and Divestitures".

[2] Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents" balance consisted of "Cash and cash equivalents", "Restricted cash and cash equivalents, current portion" and "Restricted cash and cash equivalents, net of current portion" financial statement line items in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for the respective periods.