Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				75 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016		Sep. 30, 2015		Sep. 30, 2016
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance				$ 6,171		$ 7,325
Net income (loss)		$ 229	$ 203	(84)	[1]	721	[1]
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		57	23	105		330
Total foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax		(16)	(513)	232		(857)
Total change in derivative fair value, net of income tax		40	(56)	(115)		(27)
Total pension adjustments, net of income tax		3	4	10		13
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption		0	(5)	0		(5)		$ 0
Preferred Stock, Accretion of Redemption, Discount				(4)		0
Contributions from noncontrolling interests				23		117
Distributions to noncontrolling interests				(295)		(182)
Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Business Combination	[2]			0		11
Disposition of businesses				18		(49)
Purchase of treasury stock				(79)		(408)		(1,900)
Issuance and exercise of stock-based compensation benefit plans, net of income tax				15		23
Dividends declared on common stock				(144)		(138)
Sale of subsidiary shares to noncontrolling interests				17		(83)
Acquisition of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests				(5)		0
Temporary Equity, Net Income		3	0	8		0
Ending Balance		5,768	6,461	5,768		6,461		5,768
AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax				179
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total pension adjustments, net of income tax				3
Parent [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance				3,149		4,272
Net income (loss)	[1]			(181)		391
Total foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax				179		(498)
Total change in derivative fair value, net of income tax				(52)		10
Total pension adjustments, net of income tax				3		3
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption		0	(5)	0		(5)		0
Preferred Stock, Accretion of Redemption, Discount				(4)		0
Contributions from noncontrolling interests				0		0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests				(2)		0
Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Business Combination	[2]			0		0
Disposition of businesses				0		0
Purchase of treasury stock				(79)		(408)
Issuance and exercise of stock-based compensation benefit plans, net of income tax				15		23
Dividends declared on common stock				(144)		(138)
Sale of subsidiary shares to noncontrolling interests				0		(83)
Acquisition of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests				(2)		0
Temporary Equity, Net Income				0		0
Ending Balance		2,882	3,567	2,882		3,567		2,882
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance				3,022		3,053
Net income (loss)	[1]			97		330
Total foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax				53		(359)
Total change in derivative fair value, net of income tax				(63)		(37)
Total pension adjustments, net of income tax				7		10
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption		0	0	0		0		0
Preferred Stock, Accretion of Redemption, Discount				0		0
Contributions from noncontrolling interests				23		117
Distributions to noncontrolling interests				(293)		(182)
Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Business Combination	[2]			0		11
Disposition of businesses				18		(49)
Purchase of treasury stock				0		0
Issuance and exercise of stock-based compensation benefit plans, net of income tax				0		0
Dividends declared on common stock				0		0
Sale of subsidiary shares to noncontrolling interests				17		0
Acquisition of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests				(3)		0
Temporary Equity, Net Income				8		0
Ending Balance		$ 2,886	$ 2,894	$ 2,886		$ 2,894		$ 2,886

[1] (1) Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest of $105 million and $8 million of net loss attributable to redeemable stocks of subsidiaries.

[2] (2) Fair value of a tax equity partner’s right to preferential returns as a result of the acquisition of Solar Power PR, LLC (Solar Puerto Rico), which was previously accounted for as an equity method investment.