SolarCity Inactive 10-Q6 May 152015 Q1 Quarterly reportFinancial data

Company Profile

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information	Mar. 31, 2015
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	FALSE
Document Period End Date	31-Mar-15
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Trading Symbol	SCTY
Entity Registrant Name	SOLARCITY CORP
Entity Central Index Key	1408356
Current Fiscal Year End Date	-19
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	96,855,648

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$446,683		$504,383
Short-term investments	129,166		138,311
Restricted cash	10,395		20,875
Accounts receivable (net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $2,364 and $1,941 as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively)	25,591		22,708
Rebates receivable - net	27,279		30,021
Inventories	227,676		217,223
Deferred income tax asset	12,469		13,149
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	65,442		55,729
Total current assets	944,701		1,002,399
Solar energy systems, leased and to be leased - net	3,073,600		2,796,796
Property, plant and equipment - net	163,048		101,914
Goodwill and intangible assets - net	531,470		539,557
MyPower customer notes receivable, net of current portion	138,316		34,544
MyPower deferred costs	60,746		13,147
Other assets	129,084		97,854
Total assets	5,040,965	[1]	4,586,211	[1]
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	216,807		237,809
Distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests	9,065		8,552
Current portion of deferred U.S. Treasury grant income	15,330		15,330
Accrued and other current liabilities	185,119		152,408
Customer deposits	7,815		10,560
Current portion of deferred revenue	90,009		86,238
Current portion of long-term debt	11,712		11,781
Current portion of solar bonds issued to related parties	7		3
Current portion of solar asset-backed notes	12,510		13,574
Current portion of financing obligation	30,778		29,689
Total current liabilities	671,133		567,091
Deferred revenue, net of current portion	662,776		557,408
Long-term debt, net of current portion	467,738		287,621
Convertible senior notes	796,000		796,000
Solar asset-backed notes, net of current portion	299,646		304,393
Long-term deferred tax liability	12,518		13,194
Financing obligation, net of current portion	65,248		73,379
Deferred U.S. Treasury grant income, net of current portion	393,637		397,486
Other liabilities and deferred credits	281,606		244,474
Total liabilities	3,658,484	[1]	3,243,839	[1]
Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	246,492		186,788
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.0001 par value - authorized, 1,000,000 shares as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014; issued and outstanding, 96,856 and 96,521 shares as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively	10		10
Additional paid-in capital	1,032,090		1,003,992
Accumulated deficit	-279,885		-258,360
Total stockholders' equity	752,215		745,642
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	383,774		409,942
Total equity	1,135,989		1,155,584
Total liabilities and equity	5,040,965		4,586,211
Solar Bonds [Member]
Current liabilities:
Current portion of solar bonds	1,658		820
Current portion of solar bonds issued to related parties	90,330		330
Solar bonds, net of current portion	7,982		2,593
Solar bonds issued to related parties, net of current portion	$200		$200

[1]	SolarCity Corporationâ€™s, or the Companyâ€™s, consolidated assets as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014 include $1,892,232 and $1,672,370, respectively, being assets of variable interest entities, or VIEs, that can only be used to settle obligations of the VIEs. These assets include solar energy systems, leased and to be leased-net, of $1,799,266 and $1,581,459 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; property, plant and equipment-net, of $24,437 and $24,286 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; cash and cash equivalents of $29,228 and $27,820 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; inventory, of $1,112 and $614 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; restricted cash, current, of $487 and $106 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; accounts receivable, net, of $9,891 and $6,769 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; prepaid expenses and other current assets of $1,156 and $1,839 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; rebates receivable of $21,686 and $25,397 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; restricted cash, noncurrent, of $254 and $300 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; and other assets of $4,715 and $3,780 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively. The Companyâ€™s consolidated liabilities as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014 include $27,349 and $27,808, respectively, being liabilities of VIEs whose creditors have no recourse to the Company. These liabilities include distributions payable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries and redeemable noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries of $9,065 and $8,552 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; accounts payable of $2,896 and $2,748 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; customer deposits of $4,771 and $6,405 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; accrued liabilities and other payables of $1,457 and $969 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; and current portion of long-term debt of $9,160 and $9,134 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively.

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance1

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Allowances for doubtful accounts	$2,364		$1,941
Common stock, par value	$0.00		$0.00
Common stock, shares authorized	1,000,000		1,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	96,856,000		96,856,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	96,521,000		96,521,000
Total assets	5,040,965	[1]	4,586,211	[1]
Solar energy systems, leased and to be leased - net	3,073,600		2,796,796
Property, plant and equipment - net	163,048		101,914
Cash and cash equivalents	446,683		504,383
Inventories	227,676		217,223
Restricted cash, current	10,395		20,875
Accounts receivable (net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $2,364 and $1,941 as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively)	25,591		22,708
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	65,442		55,729
Rebates receivable	27,279		30,021
Other assets	129,084		97,854
Distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests	9,065		8,552
Accounts payable	216,807		237,809
Customer deposits	7,815		10,560
Current portion of long-term debt	11,712		11,781
VIEs [Member]
Total assets	1,892,232	[1]	1,672,370	[1]
Solar energy systems, leased and to be leased - net	1,799,266		1,581,459
Property, plant and equipment - net	24,437		24,286
Cash and cash equivalents	29,228		27,820
Inventories	1,112		614
Restricted cash, current	487		106
Accounts receivable (net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $2,364 and $1,941 as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively)	9,891		6,769
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1,156		1,839
Rebates receivable	21,686		25,397
Restricted cash, noncurrent	254		300
Other assets	4,715		3,780
Non recourse Variable Interest Entity's (VIE) liabilities	27,349	[1]	27,808	[1]
Distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests	9,065		8,552
Accounts payable	2,896		2,748
Customer deposits	4,771		6,405
Accrued liabilities and other payables	1,457		969
Current portion of long-term debt	$9,160		$9,134

[1]	SolarCity Corporationâ€™s, or the Companyâ€™s, consolidated assets as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014 include $1,892,232 and $1,672,370, respectively, being assets of variable interest entities, or VIEs, that can only be used to settle obligations of the VIEs. These assets include solar energy systems, leased and to be leased-net, of $1,799,266 and $1,581,459 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; property, plant and equipment-net, of $24,437 and $24,286 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; cash and cash equivalents of $29,228 and $27,820 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; inventory, of $1,112 and $614 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; restricted cash, current, of $487 and $106 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; accounts receivable, net, of $9,891 and $6,769 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; prepaid expenses and other current assets of $1,156 and $1,839 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; rebates receivable of $21,686 and $25,397 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; restricted cash, noncurrent, of $254 and $300 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; and other assets of $4,715 and $3,780 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively. The Companyâ€™s consolidated liabilities as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014 include $27,349 and $27,808, respectively, being liabilities of VIEs whose creditors have no recourse to the Company. These liabilities include distributions payable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries and redeemable noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries of $9,065 and $8,552 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; accounts payable of $2,896 and $2,748 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; customer deposits of $4,771 and $6,405 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; accrued liabilities and other payables of $1,457 and $969 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; and current portion of long-term debt of $9,160 and $9,134 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively.

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Revenue:
Operating leases and solar energy systems incentives	$54,771	$29,072
Solar energy systems and components sales	12,708	34,474
Total revenue	67,479	63,546
Cost of revenue:
Operating leases and solar energy systems incentives	32,260	15,979
Solar energy systems and components sales	13,460	32,782
Total cost of revenue	45,720	48,761
Gross profit	21,759	14,785
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing	86,671	46,850
General and administrative	48,654	33,011
Research and development	12,120	1,923
Total operating expenses	147,445	81,784
Loss from operations	-125,686	-66,999
Interest expense - net	18,521	7,979
Other expense - net	2,104	25
Loss before income taxes	-146,311	-75,003
Income tax provision	-626	-215
Net loss	-146,937	-75,218
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests	-125,412	-51,155
Net loss attributable to stockholders	-21,525	-24,063
Net loss attributable to common stockholders
Basic	-21,525	-24,063
Diluted	($21,525)	($24,063)
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders
Basic	($0.22)	($0.26)
Diluted	($0.22)	($0.26)
Weighted average shares used to compute net loss per share attributable to common stockholders
Basic	96,680,069	91,412,126
Diluted	96,680,069	91,412,126

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme1

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Operating activities:
Net loss	($146,937)	($75,218)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment and construction in progress	66	626
Depreciation and amortization	36,351	18,989
Non cash interest and other expense	3,782	1,392
Stock-based compensation, net of amounts capitalized	18,361	12,847
Deferred income taxes	4	4
Reduction in financing obligation	-10,570	-10,282
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	7,992	12,810
Accounts receivable	-2,883	-2,860
Rebates receivable	2,742	-3,269
Inventories	-10,107	5,181
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	-7,695	-8,114
MyPower deferred costs	-47,603
Other assets	-10,292	-564
Accounts payable	-22,957	-22,680
Accrued and other liabilities	15,864	-7,377
Customer deposits	-2,745	-3,230
Deferred revenue	5,345	58,437
Net cash used in operating activities	-171,282	-23,308
Investing activities:
Payments for the cost of solar energy systems, leased and to be leased	-294,998	-187,383
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	-30,497	-4,741
Purchases of short-term investments	-44,592
Proceeds from sales and maturities of short-term investments	53,308
Payments to acquire redeemable noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary		-450
Net cash used in investing activities	-316,779	-192,574
Financing activities:
Borrowings under long-term debt	178,082	100,541
Repayments of long-term debt	-752	-50,960
Repayments of borrowings under solar asset-backed notes	-5,817	-671
Payment of deferred purchase consideration	-1,249	-957
Proceeds from financing obligation	6,392	7,740
Repayments of financing obligation	-4,912	-6,454
Repayment of capital lease obligations	-716	-382
Proceeds from investment by noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	176,318	113,393
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	-16,857	-9,273
Proceeds from U.S. Treasury grants		243
Net cash provided by financing activities before equity and convertible notes issuances	426,716	153,220
Equity and convertible notes issuances:
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	3,645	5,133
Net cash provided by equity and convertible notes issuances	3,645	5,133
Net cash provided by financing activities	430,361	158,353
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	-57,700	-57,529
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	504,383	577,080
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	446,683	519,551
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the period for interest	8,427	3,008
Cash paid (received) during the period for taxes	70	-589
Solar Bonds [Member]
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of solar bonds	6,227
Proceeds from issuance of solar bonds issued to related parties	$90,000

Organization

Organization	3 Months Ended
Organization	Mar. 31, 2015
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization	1. Organization
Organization	SolarCity Corporation, or the Company, was incorporated as a Delaware corporation on June 21, 2006. The Company is engaged in the design, manufacture, installation and sale or lease of solar energy systems to residential and commercial customers, or sale of electricity generated by solar energy systems to customers. The Company’s headquarters are located in San Mateo, California.

Summary_of_Significant_Account

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Procedures	3 Months Ended
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Procedures	Mar. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Procedures	2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Procedures
	Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
	The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, and reflect the accounts and operations of the Company and those of its subsidiaries in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. In accordance with the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, 810, Consolidation , the Company consolidates any variable interest entity, or VIE, of which it is the primary beneficiary. The typical condition for a controlling financial interest ownership is holding a majority of the voting interests of an entity; however, a controlling financial interest may also exist in entities, such as VIEs, through arrangements that do not involve controlling voting interests. ASC 810 requires a variable interest holder to consolidate a VIE if that party has the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company does not consolidate a VIE in which it has a majority ownership interest when the Company is not considered the primary beneficiary. The Company has determined that it is the primary beneficiary of a number of VIEs (see Note 6, VIE Arrangements). The Company evaluates its relationships with all the VIEs on an ongoing basis to ensure that it continues to be the primary beneficiary. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
	The Company and its subsidiaries’ fiscal quarters and years are the same as calendar quarters and years except for one subsidiary, Silevo, Inc., or Silevo, which continues to have fiscal quarters based on 13-week periods and fiscal years based on 52-week periods. Silevo’s first fiscal quarter of 2015 began on December 28, 2014 and ended on March 28, 2015, and it did not have any material activity after March 28, 2015 and through March 31, 2015.
	Reclassifications
	Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Management regularly makes significant estimates and assumptions regarding the selling price of undelivered elements for revenue recognition purposes, the collectability of accounts and rebates receivable, the valuation of inventories, the labor costs for long-term contracts used as a basis for determining the percentage of completion for such contracts, the fair values and residual values of solar energy systems subject to leases, the accounting for business combinations, the fair values and useful lives of acquired tangible and intangible assets, the fair value of debt assumed under business combinations, the fair value of contingent consideration payable under business combinations, the fair value of short-term investments, the useful lives of solar energy systems, property, plant and equipment, the determination of accrued warranty, the determination of accrued performance guarantee, the determination of lease pass-through financing obligations, the discount rates used to determine the fair values of investment tax credits, the valuation of stock-based compensation, the determination of valuation allowances associated with deferred tax assets, asset impairment and other items. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions believed to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
	Short-Term Investments
	The Company’s short-term investments are comprised of corporate debt securities and asset-backed securities. The Company classifies short-term investments as available-for-sale and carries them at fair value, with any unrealized gains or losses recognized as other comprehensive income or loss in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The specific identification method is used to determine the cost of any securities disposed of, with any realized gains or losses recognized as other income or expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. Short-term investments are anticipated to be used for current operations and are, therefore, classified as current assets even though their maturities may extend beyond one year. The Company periodically reviews short-term investments for impairment. In the event a decline in value is determined to be other-than-temporary, an impairment loss is recognized. When determining if a decline in value is other-than-temporary, the Company takes into consideration the current market conditions and the duration and severity of and the reason for the decline, as well as the likelihood that it would need to sell the security prior to a recovery of par value.
	As of March 31, 2015, short-term investments were comprised of $115.0 million of corporate debt securities and $14.2 million of asset-backed securities. The costs of these securities approximated their fair values, and there were no material gross realized or unrealized gains, gross realized or unrealized losses or impairment losses recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2015. As of March 31, 2015, all short-term investments were scheduled to mature within the next twelve months.
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements, clarifies that fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability.
	ASC 820 requires that the valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. ASC 820 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes inputs that may be used to measure fair value as follows:
	·	Level 1—Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
	·	Level 2—Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
	·	Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
	As of March 31, 2015, the assets and liabilities carried at fair value on a recurring basis included cash equivalents, short-term investments and contingent consideration.
	As of March 31, 2015, the fair value of the Company’s cash equivalents, short-term investments and contingent consideration were as follows (in thousands):

			Level 1			Level 2		Level 3
	Cash equivalents:
	Money market funds		$	43,082		$	—	$	—
	Term deposits		$	—		$	3,001	$	—
	Short-term investments:
	Corporate debt securities		$	—		$	115,033	$	—
	Asset-backed securities		$	—		$	14,133	$	—
	Liabilities:
	Contingent consideration		$	—		$	—	$	118,931

	The Company classified its money market funds within Level 1 because their fair values are based on their quoted market prices. The Company classified its term deposits, corporate debt securities and asset-backed securities within Level 2 because their fair values are determined using alternative pricing sources or models that utilized market observable inputs to determine their fair values. The Company classified its contingent consideration within Level 3 because their fair values are determined using unobservable probability estimates and unobservable estimated discount rates applicable to the acquisition to determine the fair value. Furthermore, during the three months ended March 31, 2015, there were no transfers between the levels of the fair value hierarchy.
	The contingent consideration is dependent on the achievement of specified production milestones for the acquired business. The fair value of the contingent consideration is directly proportional to the estimated probabilities of achievement of these milestones. As of March 31, 2015, the estimated probabilities ranged from 90% to 95%, the estimated discount rates ranged from 5.0% to 7.0%, $42.5 million was included under accrued and other current liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets and $76.4 million was included under other liabilities and deferred credits on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
	The following table summarizes the activity of the Level 3 contingent consideration balance in the three months ended March 31, 2015 (in thousands):

	Balance - beginning of the period		$	117,197
	Change in fair value recorded in other expense - net			1,734
	Balance - end of the period		$	118,931

	The Company’s financial instruments that are not re-measured at fair value include accounts receivable, customer notes receivable, rebates receivable, accounts payable, customer deposits, distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests, the participation interest, solar asset-backed notes, convertible senior notes, Solar Bonds and long-term debt. The carrying values of these financial instruments other than customer notes receivable, the participation interest, solar asset-backed notes, convertible senior notes, Solar Bonds and long-term debt approximate their fair values due to the fact that they were short-term in nature at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 (Level 1).
	The Company estimates the fair value of convertible senior notes based on their last actively traded prices (Level 1). The Company estimates the fair value of customer notes receivable, the participation interest, solar asset-backed notes, Solar Bonds and long-term debt based on rates currently offered for instruments with similar maturities and terms (Level 3).
	The following table presents the estimated fair values of the participation interest, solar asset-backed notes and convertible senior notes (in thousands):

			31-Mar-15			31-Dec-14
	Participation interest		$	14,259		$	14,102
	Solar asset-backed notes		$	320,756		$	328,313
	Convertible senior notes		$	745,100		$	752,176
	The Company has estimated the fair value of customer notes receivable, Solar Bonds and long-term debt to approximate their carrying values based on rates currently offered for instruments with similar maturities and terms.
	Customer Notes Receivable
	In determining the allowance and credit quality for customer loans under MyPower, the Company identifies significant customers with known disputes or collection issues and considers its historical level of credit losses and current economic trends that might impact the level of future credit losses. Customer notes receivable that are individually impaired are charged-off as a write-off of allowance for losses. As of March 31, 2015, there were no significant customers with known disputes or collection issues, and the amount of potentially uncollectible amounts was also insignificant. Accordingly, the Company did not establish an allowance for losses against customer notes receivable. In addition, there were no non-accrual or past due customer notes receivable as of March 31, 2015.
	Deferred Revenue and Deferred Costs under MyPower Contracts
	For solar energy systems sold under a MyPower contract, the Company initially defers the revenue associated with the sale of a solar energy system when it delivers a system that has passed inspection by the utility or the authority having jurisdiction. The Company recognizes revenue for the system on a cash basis over the term of the contract as the customer pays the loan’s principal and interest. The deferred revenue is included in the condensed consolidated balance sheets under current portion of deferred revenue for the portion expected to be recognized as revenue in the next 12 months, and the non-current portion is included under deferred revenue, net of current portion. The Company records a note receivable when the customer secures a loan, issued by a subsidiary of the Company, to finance the solar energy system purchase.
	MyPower deferred revenue activity was as follows (in thousands):

			As of and for the
			Three Months Ended
			March 31,
			2015
	Balance - beginning of the period		$	33,651
	MyPower systems delivered under executed contracts			96,857
	MyPower revenue recognized within solar energy systems and components sales			(1,013	)
	Balance - end of the period		$	129,495
	Of the balance outstanding as of March 31, 2015, $1.0 million is included in the condensed consolidated balance sheet under current portion of deferred revenue. The balances in the table above do not include $9.8 million allocated to remote monitoring services and $2.0 million allocated to sales taxes.
	The costs associated with solar energy systems sold under MyPower contracts, including the costs of acquisition of solar energy systems component, personnel costs associated with system installations and costs to originate the contracts such as sales commissions, referral fees and some incremental contract administration costs, are initially capitalized as deferred costs. Subsequently these costs are recognized as a component of cost of revenue from solar energy systems and components sales for the costs associated with system components and installation, or as a component of operating expenses for costs associated with contract origination, generally in proportion to the reduction of the MyPower loan’s outstanding principal over 30 years. The deferred cost is included in the condensed consolidated balance sheets under prepaid expenses and other current assets for the portion expected to be recognized in the condensed consolidated income statement in the next twelve months, and the non-current portion is included under other assets. MyPower deferred costs activity was as follows (in thousands):

		As of and for the
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2015
Balance - beginning of the period		$	13,571
MyPower systems delivered under executed contracts(1)			48,056
MyPower cost of revenue within solar energy systems and components sales			(454	)
Balance - end of the period		$	61,173

-1	Included in MyPower systems delivered under executed contracts was $6.2 million of MyPower contract origination costs incurred in the three months ended March 31, 2015.
Of the balance outstanding as of March 31, 2015, $0.4 million is included in the condensed consolidated balance sheet under prepaid and current assets.

Warranties
The Company warrants its products for various periods against defects in material or installation workmanship. The Company generally provides a warranty on the generating and non-generating parts of the solar energy systems it sells, including sales under MyPower contracts, of typically between 10 to 30 years. The manufacturer’s warranty on the solar energy systems’ components, which is typically passed-through to customers, ranges from 1 to 25 years.
The changes in the accrued warranty balance, recorded as a component of accrued and other current liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets, consisted of the following (in thousands):

		As of and for the
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2015
Balance - beginning of the period		$	8,607
Reduction in liability (payments)			(43	)
Increase in liability (new customer warranties)			6,936
Balance - end of the period		$	15,500
Solar Energy Systems Performance Guarantees
The Company guarantees certain specified minimum solar energy production output for certain systems leased or sold to customers generally for a term up to 30 years. The Company monitors the solar energy systems to ensure that these outputs are being achieved. The Company evaluates if any amounts are due to its customers. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had recorded liabilities of $1.7 million and $1.6 million, respectively, under accrued and other current liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets, relating to these guarantees based on the Company’s assessment of its current exposure.
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The Company accounts for comprehensive income (loss) in accordance with ASC 220, Comprehensive Income. Under ASC 220, the Company is required to report comprehensive income (loss), which includes net income (loss) as well as other comprehensive income (loss). There were no significant other comprehensive income (losses) and no significant differences between comprehensive loss as defined by ASC 220 and net loss as reported in the condensed consolidated statements of operations, for the periods presented.
Segment Information
Operating segments are defined as components of a company about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, or decision making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The executive team is the Company’s chief operating decision maker, which is comprised of the chief executive officer, the chief technology officer, the chief revenue officer, chief operating officer and the chief financial officer. Based on the financial information presented to and reviewed by the executive team in deciding how to allocate the resources and in assessing the performance of the Company, the Company has determined that it has a single operating and reporting segment: solar energy products and services. The Company’s principal operations, revenue and decision-making functions are located in the United States.
Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share
The Company’s basic net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders is calculated by dividing the net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period.
The diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders is computed by giving effect to all potential common stock equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury stock method or the if-converted method, as applicable. In periods when the Company incurred a net loss attributable to common stockholders, stock options, restricted stock units and convertible senior notes are considered to be common stock equivalents but have been excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders as their effect is antidilutive.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, to replace the existing revenue recognition criteria for contracts with customers and to establish the disclosure requirements for revenue from contracts with customers. The ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Adoption of the ASU is either retrospective to each prior period presented or retrospective with a cumulative adjustment to retained earnings or accumulated deficit as of the adoption date. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the ASU on its condensed consolidated financial statements.
In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern, to provide guidance within GAAP requiring management to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and requiring related disclosures. The ASU is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016. The Company believes that the ASU will have no impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements.
In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis, to amend the criteria for consolidation of certain legal entities. The ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Adoption of the ASU is either retrospective to each prior period presented or retrospective with a cumulative adjustment to retained earnings or accumulated deficit as of the adoption date. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the ASU on its condensed consolidated financial statements.
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, to require debt issuance costs to be presented as an offset against debt outstanding. The ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Adoption of the ASU is retrospective to each prior period presented. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of the ASU will have a material impact on its condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets

Goodwill and Intangible Assets	3 Months Ended
Goodwill and Intangible Assets	Mar. 31, 2015
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill and Intangible Assets	3. Goodwill and Intangible Assets
	The Company is currently reviewing the third-party valuations of certain assets acquired and liabilities assumed through the Silevo acquisitions in the third quarter of 2014 including the gross amounts of certain intangible assets presented in the tables below. The Company is also reviewing the third-party valuation of contingent consideration payable on the acquisition of Silevo. There were no material changes recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2015 related to the amounts reported in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, except for the periodic amortization of the intangible assets. However, the preliminary fair values of these intangible assets and goodwill remain subject to change.
	Intangible Assets
	The following is a summary of intangible assets as of March 31, 2015 (in thousands):


		Weighted-
		average
		useful life				Accumulated
		(in years)		Gross		amortization			Net
	Developed technology - Silevo		10	$	115,000	$	(5,971	)	$	109,029
	Developed technology - Zep Solar		7		60,100		(11,217	)		48,883
	Trademarks and trade names		7		24,700		(4,610	)		20,090
	Marketing database		5		17,427		(5,470	)		11,957
	PowerSaver agreement		10		17,077		(2,680	)		14,397
	Non-compete agreement		5		6,959		(2,184	)		4,775
	Other		6		10,028		(3,609	)		6,419
	Total		8.33	$	251,291	$	(35,741	)	$	215,550

	The following is a summary of intangible assets as of December 31, 2014 (in thousands):

									Transfers to
		Weighted-							solar energy
		average							systems,			Write-offs
		useful life				Accumulated			leased and to be			and
		(in years)		Gross		amortization			leased			cancellations			Net
	Developed technology - Silevo		10	$	115,000	$	(3,096	)	$	—		$	—			111,904
	Developed technology - Zep Solar		7		60,100		(9,070	)		—			—			51,030
	Trademarks and trade names		7		24,700		(3,728	)		—			—			20,972
	Marketing database		5		17,427		(4,599	)		—			—			12,828
	PowerSaver agreement		10		17,077		(2,253	)		—			—			14,824
	Solar energy systems backlog		30		12,434		—			(10,755	)		(1,679	)		—
	Non-compete agreement		5		6,959		(1,836	)		—			—			5,123
	Other		6		10,028		(3,072	)		—			—			6,956
	Total		9.35	$	263,725	$	(27,654	)	$	(10,755	)	$	(1,679	)	$	223,637

	Amortization expense for the identifiable purchased intangible assets for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 was allocated as follows (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended March 31,
			2015	2014
	Included in operating leases and solar energy incentives cost of revenue	$	4,281	$	893
	Included in solar energy systems and components sales cost of revenue		882		1,906
	Total included in cost of revenue		5,163		2,799
	Included in sales and marketing		2,924		2,924
	Total amortization expense	$	8,087	$	5,723

	No intangible assets were impaired during the three months ended March 31, 2015.
	The total future amortization expense for intangible assets is expected to be (in thousands):

		Cost of Revenue		Operating Expense		Total
	Nine months ending December 31, 2015	$	15,490	$	8,772	$	24,262
	2016		20,643		11,203		31,846
	2017		20,486		10,153		30,639
	2018		20,486		8,582		29,068
	2019		20,486		5,236		25,722
	Thereafter		64,398		9,615		74,013
	Total	$	161,989	$	53,561	$	215,550
	Goodwill
	The carrying value of goodwill as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was $315.9 million.

Selected_Balance_Sheet_Compone

Selected Balance Sheet Components	3 Months Ended
Selected Balance Sheet Components	Mar. 31, 2015
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Selected Balance Sheet Components	4. Selected Balance Sheet Components
	Selected components of the condensed consolidated balance sheets were as follows (in thousands):


			31-Mar-15			31-Dec-14
	Inventories:
	Raw materials		$	223,507		$	209,251
	Work in progress			4,169			7,972
	Total		$	227,676		$	217,223

	Solar Energy Systems, Leased and To Be Leased - Net:
	Solar energy systems leased to customers		$	2,670,720		$	2,388,548
	Initial direct costs related to solar energy systems leased to customers			236,559			207,537
				2,907,279			2,596,085
	Less accumulated depreciation and amortization			(183,700	)		(159,160	)
				2,723,579			2,436,925
	Solar energy systems under construction			168,949			131,048
	Solar energy systems to be leased to customers			181,072			228,823
	Solar energy systems, leased and to be leased - net(1)(2)		$	3,073,600		$	2,796,796

	Accrued and Other Current Liabilities:
	Accrued compensation		$	59,944		$	50,414
	Current portion of contingent consideration			42,536			41,978
	Accrued expenses			43,588			27,485
	Accrued sales and use taxes			10,626			10,438
	Accrued warranty			15,500			8,607
	Accrued professional services fees			5,862			6,813
	Current portion of capital lease obligation			3,820			3,430
	Current portion of deferred gain on sale-leaseback			3,243			3,243
	transactions			3,243			3,243
	Total		$	185,119		$	152,408

	Other Liabilities and Deferred Credits:
	Deferred gain on sale-leaseback transactions, net of current portion		$	53,979		$	54,790
	Build-to-suit lease liability			52,900			26,450
	Deferred rent expense			12,566			4,838
	Capital lease obligation, net of current portion			27,592			27,791
	Liability for receipts from investors			4,401			3,213
	Contingent consideration, net of current portion			76,395			75,219
	Participation interest			15,750			15,556
	Other noncurrent liabilities			38,023			36,617
	Total		$	281,606		$	244,474

	-1	Included in solar energy systems leased to customers as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was $66.4 million related to capital leased assets with an accumulated depreciation of $8.6 million and $7.9 million, respectively.
	-2	Included in solar energy systems leased to customer as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was $4.2 million and $3.5 million, respectively related to energy storage systems with an accumulated depreciation of $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively.

Indebtedness

Indebtedness	3 Months Ended
Indebtedness	Mar. 31, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Indebtedness	5. Indebtedness
	The following is a summary of the Company’s debt as of March 31, 2015 (dollars in thousands):

		Unpaid						Unused
		Principal		Carrying Value, Net of Fees				Borrowing
		Balance		Current		Long-Term		Capacity		Interest Rate			Maturity Dates
	Recourse debt:
	Revolving credit facility	$	175,000	$	—	$	172,321	$	5,664	3.40%			December 2016
	Vehicle loans		8,973		2,552		6,421		—	1.9%-7.5%			April 2015 -
	Vehicle loans		8,973		2,552		6,421		—	1.9%-7.5%			June 2019
	2.75% Convertible senior notes due in 2018		230,000		—		230,000		—	2.80%			November 2018
	1.625% Convertible senior notes due in 2019		566,000		—		566,000		—	1.60%			November 2019
	Solar Bonds		9,714		1,658		7,982		—	1.6%-5.8%			October 2015 -
	Solar Bonds		9,714		1,658		7,982		—	1.6%-5.8%			March 2030
	Solar Bonds issued to related parties		90,530		90,330		200		—	2.0%-4.0%			October 2015 -
	Solar Bonds issued to related parties		90,530		90,330		200		—	2.0%-4.0%			October 2021
	Total recourse debt		1,080,217		94,540		982,924		5,664
	Non-recourse debt:
	Term loan assumed from Silevo acquisition		9,160		9,160		—		—	7.80%			June 2015
	Term loan due in September 2015		79,000		—		76,968		—		3.7	%	September 2015
	Term loan due in May 2016		34,622		—		32,753		90,378	3.20%			May 2016
	Term loan due in December 2016		182,416		—		179,275		67,584	3.4%-3.5%			December 2016
	MyPower revolving credit facility		—		—		—		200,000				January 2017
	Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2013-1		48,839		3,332		45,507		—	4.80%			November 2038
	Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-1		67,067		2,823		64,244		—	4.60%			Apr-44
	Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-2		196,250		6,355		189,895		—	4.0%-Class A			Jul-44
	Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-2		196,250		6,355		189,895		—	5.4%-Class B			Jul-44
	Total non-recourse debt		617,354		21,670		588,642		357,962
	Total debt	$	1,697,571	$	116,210	$	1,571,566	$	363,626

	The following is a summary of the Company’s debt as of December 31, 2014 (dollars in thousands):

		Unpaid						Unused
		Principal		Carrying Value, Net of Fees				Borrowing
		Balance		Current		Long-Term		Capacity		Interest Rate		Maturity Date
	Recourse debt:
	Revolving credit facility	$	130,000	$	—	$	126,939	$	54,935	3.40%		December 2016
	Vehicle loans		9,724		2,647		7,077		—	1.9%-7.5%		March 2015 -
	Vehicle loans		9,724		2,647		7,077		—	1.9%-7.5%		June 2019
	2.75% Convertible senior notes due in 2018		230,000		—		230,000		—	2.80%		November 2018
	1.625% Convertible senior notes due in 2019		566,000		—		566,000		—	1.60%		November 2019
	Solar Bonds		3,413		820		2,593		—	2.0%-4.0%		October 2015 -
	Solar Bonds		3,413		820		2,593		—	2.0%-4.0%		October 2021
	Solar Bonds issued to related parties		530		330		200		—	2.0%-4.0%		October 2015 -
	Solar Bonds issued to related parties		530		330		200		—	2.0%-4.0%		October 2021
	Total recourse debt		939,667		3,797		932,809		54,935
	Non-recourse debt:
	Term loan assumed from Silevo acquisition		9,134		9,134		—		—	7.80%		June 2015
	Term loan due in May 2016		34,195		—		33,497		90,805	3.20%		May 2016
	Term loan due in December 2016		122,655		—		120,108		127,345	3.4%-3.5%		December 2016
	Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2013-1		49,519		3,291		46,228		—	4.80%		November 2038
	Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-1		67,676		2,779		64,897		—	4.60%		Apr-44
	Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-2		201,494		7,504		193,268		—	4.0%-Class A		Jul-44
	Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-2		201,494		7,504		193,268		—	5.4%-Class B		Jul-44
	Total non-recourse debt		484,673		22,708		457,998		218,150
	Total debt	$	1,424,340	$	26,505	$	1,390,807	$	273,085

	Recourse debt refers to debt that is recourse to the Company’s general assets. Non-recourse debt refers to debt that is recourse to only specified assets or subsidiaries of the Company. The Company’s debt is described further below.
	Recourse Debt Facilities:
	Revolving Credit Facility
	In September 2012, the Company entered into a revolving credit agreement with a syndicate of banks to obtain funding for working capital, letters of credit and funding for general corporate needs. The committed amount under the revolving credit facility was increased from $75.0 million to $200.0 million in 2013. Borrowed funds bear interest, at the Company’s option, at an annual rate of (a) 3.25% plus LIBOR or (b) 2.25% plus the highest of (i) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, (ii) Bank of America’s published “prime rate” or (iii) LIBOR plus 1.00%. The fee for undrawn commitments is 0.375% per annum. The revolving credit facility is secured by certain of the Company’s machinery and equipment, accounts receivable, inventory and other assets. In each of June, July, September, October and December 2014, the revolving credit facility was amended to increase certain debt covenant thresholds, including those related to permitted investment amounts and capital expenditures by the Company, to make certain changes in connection with the Company’s acquisition of Silevo and to make certain changes in connection with the issuance and payment of certain loans and debt, among other things. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants as of March 31, 2015.
	Vehicle Loans
	The Company has entered into various vehicle loan agreements with various financial institutions. The vehicle loans are secured by the vehicles financed. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants as of March 31, 2015.
	2.75% Convertible Senior Notes Due in 2018
In October 2013, the Company issued $230.0 million in aggregate principal of 2.75% convertible senior notes due on November 1, 2018 through a public offering. The net proceeds from the offering, after deducting transaction costs, were $222.5 million. The Company debt issuance costs were recorded in other assets and are being amortized to interest expense over the contractual term of the convertible senior notes.
Each $1,000 of principal of the convertible senior notes is initially convertible into 16.2165 shares of the Company’s common stock, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of $61.67 per share, subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of specified events set forth in the applicable indenture. Holders of the convertible senior notes may convert their convertible senior notes at their option at any time up to and including the second scheduled trading day prior to maturity. If certain events that would constitute a make-whole fundamental change under the applicable indenture occur prior to the maturity date, the Company would increase the conversion rate for a holder who elects to convert its convertible senior notes in connection with such an event in certain circumstances. The convertible senior note holders may require the Company to repurchase their convertible senior notes for cash only under certain defined fundamental changes. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants as of March 31, 2015.
1.625% Convertible Senior Notes Due in 2019
In September 2014, the Company issued $500.0 million in aggregate principal of 1.625% convertible senior notes due on November 1, 2019 through a private placement. The net amount from the issuance, after deducting transaction costs, was $488.3 million. On October 10, 2014, the Company issued an additional $66.0 million in aggregate principal of the 1.625% convertible senior notes, pursuant to the exercise of an option by the initial purchasers. The net amount from the additional issuance, after deducting transaction costs, was $64.5 million. The debt issuance costs were recorded in other assets and are being amortized to interest expense over the contractual term of the convertible senior notes.
Each $1,000 of principal of the convertible senior notes is initially convertible into 11.972 shares of the Company’s common stock, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of $83.53 per share, subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of specified events set forth in the applicable indenture. Holders of the convertible senior notes may convert their convertible senior notes at their option at any time up to and including the second scheduled trading day prior to maturity. If certain events that would constitute a make-whole fundamental change under the applicable indenture occur prior to the maturity date, the Company would increase the conversion rate for a holder who elects to convert its convertible senior notes in connection with such an event in certain circumstances. The convertible senior note holders may require the Company to repurchase their convertible senior notes for cash only under certain defined fundamental changes. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants as of March 31, 2015.
In connection with the issuance of the convertible senior notes in September 2014, the Company paid $57.6 million to enter into capped call option agreements to reduce the potential dilution to holders of the Company’s common stock upon conversion of the convertible senior notes. In connection with the additional issuance of the convertible senior notes on October 10, 2014, the Company paid $7.6 million to enter into an additional capped call option agreement. The capped call option agreements have a cap price of $126.08 and an initial strike price of $83.53, which is equal to the initial conversion price of the convertible senior notes. The capped call options expire on various dates ranging from September 4, 2019 to October 29, 2019. The capped call option agreements are separate transactions, are not a part of the terms of the convertible senior notes and do not affect the rights of the convertible senior note holders. The capped call option agreements met the criteria for equity classification and were recorded as reductions to additional paid-in capital. The capped call option agreements are excluded from the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders as their effect is antidilutive.
Solar Bonds
In October 2014, the Company commenced issuing Solar Bonds, which are senior unsecured obligations that are structurally subordinate to the indebtedness and other liabilities of the Company’s subsidiaries. Solar Bonds have been issued under multiple series that have various fixed terms and interest rates. The Company intends to continue to issue Solar Bonds from time to time depending on market conditions. In March 2015, Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or SpaceX, purchased $90.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 2.00% Solar Bonds due in March 2016. SpaceX is considered a related party (see Note 12, Related Party Transactions). The Company was in compliance with all debt covenants as of March 31, 2015.
Non-Recourse Debt Facilities:
Term Loan Assumed From Silevo Acquisition
Through the Silevo acquisition, the Company assumed a pre-existing term loan with an outstanding principal balance of $9.1 million. The term loan bears interest at a fixed rate of 7.8% per annum and is denominated in the Chinese Yuan. The term loan is a liability of the Silevo JV only and is non-recourse to Company and its other subsidiaries. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants as of March 31, 2015.
Term Loan Due in September 2015
In March 2015, a subsidiary of the Company entered into an agreement with a bank for a term loan of $79.0 million. The term loan bears interest, at the Company’s option, at an annual rate of (a) 3.50% plus LIBOR or (b) 3.50% plus the highest of (i) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, (ii) Bank of America’s published “prime rate” or (iii) LIBOR plus 1.00%. The term loan is secured by certain assets and cash flows of certain subsidiaries of the Company and is non-recourse to the Company’s other assets or cash flows. On May 4, 2015, the Company fully paid-off the term loan with a portion of the proceeds from the solar asset-backed revolving credit facility (see Note 15, Subsequent Events). The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants as of March 31, 2015.
Term Loan Due in May 2016
On May 23, 2014, a subsidiary of the Company entered into an agreement with a syndicate of banks for a term loan of $125.0 million. The term loan bears interest at an annual rate of 3.00% to 4.00%, depending on the cumulative period the term loan has been outstanding, plus LIBOR or, at the Company’s option, plus the highest of (i) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, (ii) Bank of America’s published “prime rate” or (iii) LIBOR plus 1.00%. The term loan is secured by certain assets and cash flows of the subsidiary and is non-recourse to the Company’s other assets or cash flows. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants as of March 31, 2015.
Term Loan Due in December 2016
On February 4, 2014, a subsidiary of the Company entered into an agreement with a syndicate of banks for a term loan of $100.0 million. On February 20, 2014, the agreement was amended to increase the maximum term loan availability to $220.0 million. On March 20, 2014, the agreement was further amended to increase the maximum term loan availability to $250.0 million. The term loan bears interest at an annual rate of LIBOR plus 3.25% or, at the Company’s option, 3.25% plus the highest of (i) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, (ii) Bank of America’s published “prime rate” or (iii) LIBOR plus 1.00%. The term loan is secured by the assets and cash flows of the subsidiary and is non-recourse to the Company’s other assets. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants as of March 31, 2015.
MyPower Revolving Credit Facility
On January 9, 2015, a subsidiary of the Company entered into a $200.0 million revolving credit agreement with a syndicate of banks to obtain funding for the MyPower customer loan program. The MyPower revolving credit facility provides up to $160.0 million of Class A notes and up to $40.0 million of Class B notes. The Class A notes bear interest at an annual rate of 2.50% plus (a) the commercial paper rate or (b) 1.50% plus adjusted LIBOR. The Class B notes bear interest at an annual rate of 5.00% plus LIBOR. The fee for undrawn commitments is 0.50% per annum. The MyPower revolving credit facility is secured by the payments owed to the Company or its subsidiaries under the MyPower customer loans and is non-recourse to the Company’s other assets. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants as of March 31, 2015.
Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2013-1
The Company has structured and entered into various solar asset-backed note securitization transactions pursuant to its financial strategy of monetizing solar assets at the lowest cost of capital.
In November 2013, the Company pooled and transferred qualifying solar energy systems and the associated customer contracts into a special purpose entity, or SPE, and issued $54.4 million in aggregate principal of Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2013-1, backed by these solar assets to certain investors. The SPE is wholly owned by the Company and is consolidated in the Company’s financial statements. Accordingly, the Company did not recognize a gain or loss on the transfer of these solar assets. As of March 31, 2015, these solar assets had a carrying value of $142.5 million and are included under solar energy systems, leased and to be leased — net, in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Solar Asset-backed Notes were issued at a discount of 0.05%. The cash flows generated by these solar assets are used to service the monthly principal and interest payments on the Solar Asset-backed Notes and satisfy the SPE’s expenses, and any remaining cash is distributed to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The Company recognizes revenue earned from the associated customer contracts in accordance with the Company’s revenue recognition policy. The assets and cash flows generated by the qualifying solar energy systems are not available to the other creditors of the Company, and the creditors of the SPE, including the Solar Asset-backed Note holders, have no recourse to the Company’s other assets. The Company contracted with the SPE to provide operations and maintenance and administrative services for the qualifying solar energy systems. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants as of March 31, 2015.
Solar Asset-backed Notes, 2014-1
In April 2014, the Company pooled and transferred qualifying solar energy systems and the associated customer contracts into a SPE and issued $70.2 million in aggregate principal of Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-1, backed by these solar assets to certain investors. The SPE is wholly owned by the Company and is consolidated in the Company’s financial statements. Accordingly, the Company did not recognize a gain or loss on the transfer of these solar assets. As of March 31, 2015, these solar assets had a carrying value of $133.2 million and are included under solar energy systems, leased and to be leased — net, in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Solar Asset-backed Notes were issued at a discount of 0.01%. The cash flows generated by these solar assets are used to service the monthly principal and interest payments on the Solar Asset-backed Notes and satisfy the SPE’s expenses, and any remaining cash is distributed to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The Company recognizes revenue earned from the associated customer contracts in accordance with the Company’s revenue recognition policy. The assets and cash flows generated by the qualifying solar energy systems are not available to the other creditors of the Company, and the creditors of the SPE, including the Solar Asset-backed Note holders, have no recourse to the Company’s other assets. The Company contracted with the SPE to provide operations and maintenance and administrative services for the qualifying solar energy systems. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants as of March 31, 2015.
Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-2
In July 2014, the Company pooled and transferred qualifying solar energy systems and the associated customer contracts into a SPE and issued $160.0 million in aggregate principal of Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-2, Class A, and $41.5 million in aggregate principal of Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-2, Class B, to certain investors. The SPE is wholly owned by the Company and is consolidated in the Company’s financial statements. Accordingly, the Company did not recognize a gain or loss on
the transfer of these solar assets. As of March 31, 2015, these solar assets had a carrying value of $283.1 million and are included under solar energy systems, leased and to be leased — net, in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Solar Asset-backed Notes were issued at a discount of 0.01%. These solar assets and the associated customer contracts are leased to an investor under a lease pass-through arrangement that the Company has accounted for as a borrowing. The rent paid by the investor under the lease pass-through arrangement is used (and, following the expiration of the lease pass-through arrangement, the cash generated by these solar assets will be used) to service the monthly principal and interest payments on the Solar Asset-backed Notes and satisfy the SPE’s expenses, and any remaining cash is distributed to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The Company recognizes revenue earned from the associated customer contracts in accordance with the Company’s revenue recognition policy. The assets and cash flows generated by these solar assets are not available to the other creditors of the Company, and the creditors of the SPE, including the Solar Asset-backed Note holders, have no recourse to the Company’s other assets. The Company contracted with the SPE to provide operations and maintenance and administrative services for the qualifying solar energy systems. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants as of March 31, 2015.

VIE_Arrangements

VIE Arrangements	3 Months Ended
VIE Arrangements	Mar. 31, 2015
Variable Interest Entity Disclosure [Abstract]
VIE Arrangements	6. VIE Arrangements
	The Company has entered into various arrangements with investors to facilitate funding and monetization of solar energy systems. These arrangements include those described in this Note 6, VIE Arrangements, as well as those described in Note 7, Financing Obligations.
	VIE Fund Arrangements
	Wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company and fund investors formed and contributed cash or assets to various solar financing funds and entered into related agreements. Additionally, the Company acquired the assets of a fund through a business combination in September 2013 and assumed the related contractual arrangements. The following table shows the number of current VIE funds by classification of investor, the carrying value of solar energy systems in the funds, the total investor contributions received and undrawn investor contributions as of March 31, 2015 under these funds (in thousands, except for number of funds):

						Total				Carrying
						Investor		Undrawn		Value of
	Investor		Number			Contributions		Investor		Solar Energy
	Classification		of Funds			Received		Contributions		Systems
	Financial institutions			17		$	1,071,405	$	96,346	$	1,241,970
	Corporations			6			281,165		283,234		302,004
	Utilities			2			247,286		18,750		251,992
	Various other investors			1			3,607		-		3,300
	Total			26		$	1,603,463	$	398,330	$	1,799,266
	The Company has determined that the funds are VIEs and it is the primary beneficiary of these VIEs by reference to the power and benefits criterion under ASC 810, Consolidation. The Company has considered the provisions within the contractual agreements, which grant it power to manage and make decisions that affect the operation of these VIEs, including determining the solar energy systems and associated customer contracts to be sold or contributed to these VIEs and the redeployment of solar energy systems. The Company considers that the rights granted to the fund investors under the contractual agreements are more protective in nature rather than participating.
	As the primary beneficiary of these VIEs, the Company consolidates in its financial statements the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of these VIEs, and all intercompany balances and transactions between the Company and these VIEs are eliminated in the condensed consolidated financial statements.
	Cash distributions of income and other receipts by a fund, net of agreed upon expenses, estimated expenses, tax benefits and detriments of income and loss and tax credits, are allocated to the fund investor and the Company’s subsidiary as specified in contractual agreements.
	Generally, the Company’s subsidiary has the option to acquire the fund investor’s interest in the fund for an amount based on the market value of the fund or the formula specified in the contractual agreements.
	As of March 31, 2015 the Company was contractually required to make payments to a fund investor in order to ensure the investor is projected to achieve a specified minimum return annually. The amounts of any potential future payments under this guarantee are dependent on the amounts and timing of future distributions to the investor from the fund, the tax benefits that accrue to the investor from the fund’s activities and the amount and timing of the Company’s purchase of the investor’s interest in the fund or the amount and timing of the distributions to the investor upon liquidation of the fund. Due to uncertainties associated with estimating the amount and timing of distributions to the investor and the possibility and timing of the liquidation of the fund, the Company is unable to determine the potential maximum future payments that it would have to make under this guarantee.
	Upon the sale or liquidation of a fund, distributions would occur in the order and priority specified in the contractual agreements.
	Pursuant to management services, maintenance and warranty arrangements, the Company has been contracted to provide services to the funds, such as operations and maintenance support, accounting, lease servicing and performance reporting. In some instances, the Company has guaranteed payments to the investors as specified in the contractual agreements. A fund’s creditors have no recourse to the general credit of the Company or to that of other funds. None of the assets of the funds had been pledged as collateral for their obligations.
	The Company presents the solar energy systems in the VIEs under solar energy systems, leased and to be leased – net in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The aggregate carrying values of the VIEs’ assets and liabilities, after elimination of intercompany transactions and balances, in the condensed consolidated balance sheets were as follows (in thousands):

			31-Mar-15			31-Dec-14
	Assets
	Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	27,170		$	26,419
	Restricted cash			487			106
	Accounts receivable - net			9,891			6,769
	Rebates receivable			21,686			25,397
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets			556			615
	Total current assets			59,790			59,306
	Restricted cash			254			300
	Solar energy systems, leased and to be leased - net			1,799,266			1,581,459
	Other assets			4,715			3,780
	Total assets		$	1,864,025		$	1,644,845
	Liabilities
	Current liabilities:
	Distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable		$	9,065		$	8,552
	noncontrolling interests		$	9,065		$	8,552
	Current portion of deferred U.S. Treasury grant income			6,501			6,502
	Accrued and other current liabilities			846			336
	Customer deposits			4,771			6,405
	Current portion of deferred revenue			18,541			16,746
	Total current liabilities			39,724			38,541
	Deferred revenue, net of current portion			268,243			256,200
	Deferred U.S. Treasury grant income, net of current portion			168,912			170,548
	Other liabilities and deferred credits			15,088			10,825
	Total liabilities		$	491,967		$	476,114
	Silevo’s Joint Venture in China
	The Company, through a subsidiary, Silevo, Inc. operates a joint venture, Silevo China Company Limited, or the JV, with three other Chinese legal entities, or the JV Partners, to develop, manufacture and market high performance solar cells. Silevo owns approximately 65.7% of the outstanding capital of the JV, and the rest is owned by the JV Partners. Silevo has a Manufacturing Services and Technology Licensing Agreement with the JV to acquire solar cells on a “cost-plus” basis. The JV is required to obtain Silevo’s consent to sell products to any third-party. The agreement had an initial term of one year and automatically renews for successive one-year periods.
	The Company has determined that the JV is a VIE and that Silevo is the primary beneficiary of the JV since the variable interests held by Silevo empower it to direct the activities that most significantly impact the joint venture’s economic performance. In reaching this determination, the Company considered the significant control exercised by Silevo over the JV’s Board of Directors, management and the daily operations of the JV.
	Silevo has the right to acquire the JV Partners’ interests in the JV at any time within five years from the date of their initial capital contribution. The JV Partners have the right to sell all or part of their interests in the JV to Silevo if the JV does not meet certain conditions set out in the JV contract, which include meeting set production targets within a specified time frame. The JV did not meet some of those targets, and as such, the option is currently exercisable. The JV is not allowed to make a profit distribution to investors prior to the full exit of JV Partners from their investments in the JV.
	Since Silevo has been determined to be the primary beneficiary of the JV, the JV’s assets, liabilities and results of operations are included in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. The JV Partners’ interests in the JV are reflected in redeemable noncontrolling interests on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The JV Partners’ interests in the JV is recorded at fair value which takes into account the JV Partners’ share of the JV’s enterprise value and the value of the JV Partners’ option to sell their interests in the JV to Silevo.
	The aggregate carrying values of the JV’s assets and liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets were as follows (in thousands):
			31-Mar-15			31-Dec-14
	Assets
	Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	2,058		$	1,401
	Inventories			1,112			614
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets			600			1,224
	Total current assets			3,770			3,239
	Property, plant and equipment - net			24,437			24,286
	Total assets		$	28,207		$	27,525
Liabilities
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	2,896		$	2,748
Accrued and other current liabilities			611			633
Current portion of long-term debt			9,160			9,134
Total current liabilities			12,667			12,515
Total liabilities		$	12,667		$	12,515

Financing_Obligations

Financing Obligations	3 Months Ended
Financing Obligations	Mar. 31, 2015
Lease Pass Through Financing Obligation [Abstract]
Financing Obligations	7. Financing Obligations
	Lease Pass-Through Financing Obligation
	In the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company entered into a new lease pass-through fund arrangement. Under this arrangement, the Company and an investor formed a partnership whereby the Company contributes solar energy systems and the investor contributes cash to the partnership. Contemporaneously, the partnership entered into a master lease arrangement to lease the solar energy systems and the associated customer lease or power purchase agreements to the investor. The Company has concluded that the partnership is a VIE that is consolidated by the Company as the primary beneficiary. The assets and liabilities of this partnership are included under Note 6, VIE Arrangements. The partnership also makes a tax election to pass-through the investment tax credits, or ITCs, that accrue to the solar energy systems to the investor, who as the legal lessee of the property is allowed to claim the ITCs under Section 50(d)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code and the related regulations. The solar energy systems are included under solar energy systems, leased and to be leased – net in the condensed consolidated balance sheets, and as of March 31, 2015, the net carrying value of the solar energy systems was $12.2 million.
	Under the arrangement, the investor makes a large upfront payment to the partnership and subsequent periodic payments. The Company allocates a portion of the aggregate payments received from the investor to the estimated fair value of the assigned ITCs, and the balance to the future customer lease payments that are also assigned to the investors. The estimated fair value of the ITCs are determined by discounting the estimated cash flows impact of the ITCs using an appropriate discount rate that reflects a market interest rate. The partnership has an obligation to ensure the solar energy system is in service and operational for a term of five years to avoid any recapture of the ITCs. Accordingly under the Company’s accounting policy for ITCs, the Company recognizes revenue as the recapture provisions lapse assuming all other revenue recognition criteria under ASC 605-10-S99, Revenue Recognition-Overall-SEC Materials have been met. The amounts allocated to ITCs are initially recorded as deferred revenue on the condensed consolidated balance sheet, and subsequently, one-fifth of the amounts allocated to ITCs is recognized as revenue from operating leases and solar energy systems incentives in the condensed consolidated statements of operations on each anniversary of the solar energy system’s placed in service date over the next five years.
	The Company accounts for the residual of the payments received from the investors, net of amounts allocated to ITCs, as a borrowing by recording the proceeds received as a lease pass-through financing obligation, which would be repaid customer payments and incentive rebates that would be received by the investors. Under this approach, the Company continues to account for the arrangement with the customers in its condensed consolidated financial statements, whether the cash generated from the customer arrangements is received by the lessor or paid directly to the investors. A portion of the amounts received by the investors from customer payments and incentive rebates associated with the leases assigned to the investors is applied to reduce the lease pass-through financing obligation, and the balance is allocated to interest expense. The incentive rebates and host customer payments are recognized into revenue consistent with the Company’s revenue recognition accounting policy. Interest is calculated on the lease pass-through financing obligation using the effective interest rate method. The effective interest rate is the interest rate that equates the present value of the cash amounts to be received by an investor over the master lease term with the present value of the cash amounts paid by the investor to the Company, adjusted for any payments made by the Company. The lease pass-through financing obligation is nonrecourse once the associated assets have been placed in service and all the customer arrangements have been assigned to the investors.
	The investor is responsible for services such as warranty support, accounting, lease servicing and performance reporting, which have been outsourced to the Company under an operations and maintenance agreement.

Redeemable_Noncontrolling_Inte

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests in Subsidiaries	3 Months Ended
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests in Subsidiaries	Mar. 31, 2015
Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests in Subsidiaries	8. Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests in Subsidiaries
	Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries that are redeemable at the option of the holder are classified as redeemable noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries between liabilities and stockholders’ equity in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The redeemable noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries balance is determined using the hypothetical liquidation at book value method for the VIE funds or allocation of share of income or losses in other subsidiaries subsequent to initial recognition, however, the noncontrolling interests balance cannot be less than the estimated redemption value. The activity of the redeemable noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries balance was as follows (in thousands):

	Balance at December 31, 2014		186,788
	Contributions from redeemable noncontrolling interests		108,038
	Net loss		(39,406	)
	Distributions to redeemable noncontrolling interests		(8,928	)
	Balance at March 31, 2015	$	246,492

Equity

Equity	3 Months Ended
Equity	Mar. 31, 2015
Equity [Abstract]
Equity	9. Equity
	The changes in total stockholders’ equity and noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries were as follows (in thousands):

		Total			Noncontrolling
		Stockholders'			Interests in			Total
		Equity			Subsidiaries			Equity
	Balance, December 31, 2014	$	745,642		$	409,942		$	1,155,584
	Contributions from noncontrolling interests		—			68,280			68,280
	Stock-based compensation expense		24,453			—			24,453
	Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options for cash		3,645			—			3,645
	Net loss		(21,525	)		(86,006	)		(107,531	)
	Distributions to noncontrolling interests		—			(8,442	)		(8,442	)
	Balance, March 31, 2015	$	752,215		$	383,774		$	1,135,989

Equity_Award_Plans

Equity Award Plans	3 Months Ended
Equity Award Plans	Mar. 31, 2015
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]
Equity Award Plans	10. Equity Award Plans
	Stock Options
	Under the Company’s 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, the Company may grant incentive stock options and nonstatutory stock options for common stock to employees, directors and consultants. Stock options may be granted at an exercise price per share not less than 100% of the fair market value per share on the grant date. If an incentive stock option is granted to a 10% or greater stockholder, then the exercise price per share shall not be less than 110% of the fair market value per share on the grant date. Stock options granted are exercisable over a maximum term of 10 years from the date of grant and generally vest over a period of four years.
	In September 2012, the Company adopted a director compensation plan for future non-employee directors. Under the director compensation plan, each individual who joins the board of directors as a non-employee director following the adoption of the plan receives an initial stock option grant to purchase 30,000 shares of common stock at the time of initial election or appointment and additional triennial stock option grants to purchase 15,000 shares of common stock, as well as an annual cash retainer of $15,000, all of which are subject to continued service on the board of directors. Such non-employee directors who serve on committees of the board of directors receive various specified additional equity awards and cash retainers.
	A summary of stock option activity is as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

										Weighted-
							Weighted-			Average
							Average			Remaining		Aggregate
			Stock				Exercise			Contractual		Intrinsic
			Options				Price			Term		Value
	Outstanding - December 31, 2014			13,950				32.89			7.64		342,293
	Granted (weighted-average fair value of $34.48)			244				51.16
	Exercised			(310	)			11.75					11,601
	Canceled			(301	)			58.78
	Outstanding - March 31, 2015			13,583			$	33.12			7.49	$	308,354
	Options vested and exercisable - March 31, 2015			7,036			$	15.8			6.3	$	261,547
	Options vested and expected to vest - March 31, 2015			12,574			$	31.36			7.37	$	303,893

	As of March 31, 2015, approximately 27% of the non-vested stock options outstanding had a performance feature that is required to be satisfied before the option is vested and exercisable. The grant date fair market value of options that vested in the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 was $23.8 million and $7.5 million, respectively.
	As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, there was $176.9 million and $242.9 million, respectively, of total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, related to nonvested stock options, which are expected to be recognized over the weighted-average period of 2.82 years and 2.76 years, respectively.
	Under ASC 718, the Company estimates the fair value of stock options granted on each grant date using the Black-Scholes option valuation model and applies the straight-line method of expense attribution. The fair values were estimated on each grant date with the following weighted-average assumptions:

			Three Months Ended March 31,
			2015				2014
	Dividend yield			0	%			0	%
	Annual risk-free rate of return			1.56	%			2.01	%
	Expected volatility			76.9	%			84.86	%
	Expected term (years)			6.12				6.2

	The expected volatility was calculated based on the average historical volatilities of publicly traded peer companies determined by the Company. The risk-free interest rate used was based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the expected term of the stock options to be valued. The expected dividend yield was zero, as the Company does not anticipate paying a dividend within the relevant time frame. The expected term has been estimated using the simplified method allowed under ASC 718.
	Restricted Stock Units
	The Company began granting restricted stock units, or RSUs, to employees, directors and consultants in 2012 under the Company’s 2012 Equity Incentive Plan. Pursuant to the acquisition of Silevo, Inc., or Silevo, on September 23, 2014, the Company granted RSUs to former employees of Silevo to replace their outstanding and unvested Silevo stock options. These RSUs vest under the same terms as the replaced Silevo stock options. A summary of RSU activity is as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

							Weighted-
			Restricted				Average
			Stock				Fair
			Units				Value
	Outstanding - December 31, 2014			1,029				61.16
	Granted			696				53.76
	Released			(25	)			65.87
	Cancelled			(60	)			57.48
	Outstanding - March 31, 2015			1,640			$	58.09
	Expected to vest - March 31, 2015			1,295			$	58.16

	The grant date fair value of RSUs released was $1.6 million and $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Under ASC 718, the Company determines the fair value of RSUs granted on each grant date based on the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the grant date and applies the straight-line method of expense attribution. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, there was $64.5 million and $55.2 million, respectively, of total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, from RSUs, which are expected to be recognized over the weighted-average period of 3.45 years and 3.30 years, respectively.
	Stock-Based Compensation Expense
	As part of the requirements of ASC 718, the Company is required to estimate potential forfeitures of equity awards and adjust stock-based compensation expense accordingly. The estimate of forfeitures will be adjusted over the requisite service period to the extent that actual forfeitures differ, or are expected to differ, from such estimates. Changes in estimated forfeitures will be recognized in the period of change and will also impact the amount of stock-based compensation expenses to be recognized in future periods.
	The amount of stock-based compensation expense recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 was $24.5 million and $18.1 million, respectively.
	The amount of stock-based compensation expense that has been capitalized is as follows (in thousands):

			Three Months Ended March 31,
			2015				2014
	Capitalized under:
	Inventories		$	250			$	108
	Other assets		$	642			$	—
	Property, plant and equipment - net		$	606			$	1,480
	Solar energy systems, leased and to be leased - net		$	4,638			$	3,642

	Stock-based compensation expense is included in cost of revenue and operating expenses as follows (in thousands):

			Three Months Ended March 31,
			2015				2014
	Total cost of revenue		$	320			$	826
Sales and marketing		$	3,765			$	3,040
General and administrative		$	10,143			$	8,475
Research and development		$	4,133			$	506

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
Income Taxes	Mar. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	11. Income Taxes
	The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based upon the difference between the condensed consolidated financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rate expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which the differences are expected to be reversed.
	The income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 was determined based on the Company’s estimated consolidated effective income tax rates of 0.43% and negative 0.29%, respectively. The differences between the estimated consolidated effective income tax rate and the U.S. federal statutory rate were primarily attributable to valuation allowance and the current amortization of the prepaid income taxes due to inter-company sales held within the consolidated group.
	As part of the asset monetization strategy, the Company has agreements to sell solar energy systems to the solar financing fund joint ventures. The gain on the sale of the assets has been eliminated in the condensed consolidated financial statements. These transactions are treated as inter-company sales and as such, tax is not recognized on the sale until the Company no longer benefits from the underlying asset. Since the systems remain within the consolidated group, the tax expense incurred related to these sales is being deferred and amortized over the estimated useful life of the underlying systems which has been estimated to be 30 years. The deferral of the tax expense results in recording of a prepaid tax expense that is included in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as other assets. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company recorded a net prepaid tax expense, net of amortization of $3.7 million and $3.7 million, respectively. The amortization of the prepaid tax expense in each period makes up the major component of the tax expense.
	Uncertain Tax Positions
	The Company is subject to taxation and files income tax returns in the U.S., various state, local and foreign jurisdictions. Due to the Company’s net losses, substantially all of its federal, state, local and foreign income tax returns since inception are still subject to audit.

Related_Party_Transactions

Related Party Transactions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions	12. Related Party Transactions
	The Company’s operations included the following related party transactions (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015		2014
	Expenditures:
	Purchases of inventories or equipment from related parties	$	797	$	960
	Fees paid or payable to related parties (included in sales	$	—	$	64
	and marketing expense)
	Interest paid or payable to related parties (included in	$	8	$	—
	interest expense — net)

	Related party balances were comprised of the following (in thousands):

		31-Mar-15		31-Dec-14
	Due from related parties (included in accounts receivable)	$	30	$	30
	Due to related parties (included in accounts payable)	$	693	$	300
	Due to related parties (included in solar bonds)	$	90,530	$	530
	Due to related parties (included in accrued and	$	7	$	3
	other current liabilities)
	The related party transactions were primarily purchases of batteries from Tesla Motors, Inc., or Tesla, and issuances of Solar Bonds to SpaceX and the Chief Technology Officer. Tesla is considered a related party because the Chairman of the Company’s board of directors is the chief executive officer and chairman of Tesla, other members of the Company’s board of directors also serve as members of the board of directors of Tesla, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer also serves as a member of the board of directors of Tesla, and some members of the Company’s board of directors and executive management are also investors in Tesla. SpaceX is considered a related party because the Chairman of the Company’s board of directors is the chief executive officer, chief designer, chairman and a significant stockholder of SpaceX, other members of the Company’s board of directors also serve as members of the board of directors of SpaceX, and some members of the Company’s board of directors and executive management are also investors in SpaceX.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies	Mar. 31, 2015
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	13. Commitments and Contingencies
	Noncancelable Leases
	The Company leases offices, warehouse facilities, equipment, vehicles and solar energy systems under noncancelable leases.
	Build-to-Suit Lease Arrangement
	In September 2014, a subsidiary of the Company entered into a build-to-suit lease arrangement with the Research Foundation for the State University of New York, or the Foundation, for the construction of an approximately 1,000,000 square foot manufacturing facility with the capacity to produce at least 1 gigawatt of solar panels annually on an approximately 88.24 acre site located in Buffalo, New York. Under the terms of the agreement, the Foundation will construct the manufacturing facility and install certain utilities and other improvements, with participation by the Company as to the design and construction of the manufacturing facility, and acquire certain manufacturing equipment designated by the Company to be used in the manufacturing facility. The Foundation will cover construction costs related to the manufacturing facility in an amount up to $350.0 million and the acquisition and commissioning of the manufacturing equipment in an amount up to $400.0 million, in each case, subject to the maximum funding allocation from the State of New York, and the Company will be responsible for any construction and equipment costs in excess of such amounts. The Foundation will own the manufacturing facility and manufacturing equipment. Following completion of the manufacturing facility, the Company will lease the manufacturing facility and the manufacturing equipment from the Foundation for an initial period of 10 years, with an option to renew, for $2 per year plus utilities.
	Under the terms of the build-to-suit lease arrangement, the Company is required to achieve specific operational milestones during the initial term of the lease, which include employing a certain number of employees at the facility and within the State of New York within specified time periods following the completion of the facility. The Company is also required to spend or incur approximately $5 billion in combined capital, operational expenses and other costs in the State of New York over the 10 years following full production. On an annual basis during the initial lease term, as measured on each anniversary of the commissioning of the facility, if the Company fails to meet its specified investment and job creation obligations, then it would be obligated to pay a $41.2 million “program payment” to the Foundation for each year that it fails to meet these requirements. Furthermore, if the agreement is terminated due to a material breach by the Company, then additional amounts might be payable by the Company.
	Due to the Company’s involvement with the construction of the facility, its exposure to any potential cost overruns and its other commitments under the agreement, the Company is deemed to be the owner of the facility and the manufacturing equipment for accounting purposes during the construction phase. Accordingly, as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had recorded a build-to-suit lease asset under construction of $52.9 million and $26.5 million, respectively, which is a component of property, plant and equipment – net, and a corresponding build-to-suit lease liability, which is a component of other liabilities and deferred credits, on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
	Indemnification and Guaranteed Returns
	The Company is contractually committed to compensate certain fund investors for any losses that they may suffer in certain limited circumstances resulting from reductions in U.S. Treasury grants or ITCs. Generally, such obligations would arise as a result of reductions to the value of the underlying solar energy systems as assessed by the U.S. Treasury Department for purposes of claiming U.S. Treasury grants or as assessed by the IRS for purposes of claiming ITCs or U.S. Treasury grants. For each balance sheet date, the Company assesses and recognizes, when applicable, the potential exposure from this obligation based on all the information available at that time, including any guidelines issued by the U.S. Treasury Department on solar energy system valuations for purposes of claiming U.S. Treasury grants and any audits undertaken by the IRS. The Company believes that any payments to the fund investors in excess of the amount already recognized by the Company for this obligation are not probable based on the facts known at the reporting date.
	The maximum potential future payments that the Company could have to make under this obligation would depend on the difference between the fair values of the solar energy systems sold or transferred to the funds as determined by the Company and the values that the U.S. Treasury Department would determine as fair value for the systems for purposes of claiming U.S. Treasury grants or the values the IRS would determine as the fair value for the systems for purposes of claiming ITCs or U.S. Treasury grants. The Company claims U.S. Treasury grants based on guidelines provided by the U.S. Treasury department and the statutory regulations from the IRS. The Company uses fair values determined with the assistance of independent third-party appraisals commissioned by the Company as the basis for determining the ITCs that are passed-through to and claimed by the fund investors. Since the Company cannot determine future revisions to U.S. Treasury Department guidelines governing system values or how the IRS will evaluate system values used in claiming ITCs or U.S. Treasury grants, the Company is unable to reliably estimate the maximum potential future payments that it could have to make under this obligation as of each balance sheet date.
	The Company is eligible to receive certain state and local incentives that are associated with renewable energy generation. The amount of incentives that can be claimed is based on the projected or actual solar energy system size and/or the amount of solar energy produced. The Company also currently participates in one state’s incentive program that is based on either the fair market value or the tax basis of solar energy systems placed in service. State and local incentives received are allocated between the Company and fund investors in accordance with the contractual provisions of each fund. The Company is not contractually obligated to indemnify any fund investor for any losses they may incur due to a shortfall in the amount of state or local incentives actually received.
	As disclosed in Note 6, VIE Arrangements , the Company is contractually required to make payments to one fund investor to ensure that the fund investor achieves a specified minimum internal rate of return. The fund investor has already received a significant portion of the projected economic benefits from U.S. Treasury grant distributions and tax depreciation benefits. The contractual provisions of the fund state that the fund has an indefinite term unless the members agree to dissolve the fund. Based on the Company’s current financial projections regarding the amount and timing of future distributions to the fund investor, the Company does not expect to make any payments as a result of this guarantee and has not accrued any liabilities for this guarantee. The amount of potential future payments under this guarantee is dependent on the amount and timing of future distributions to the fund investor and future tax benefits that accrue to the fund investor. Due to the uncertainties surrounding estimating the amounts of these factors, the Company is unable to estimate the maximum potential payments under this guarantee. As of March 31, 2015, the fund investor has achieved the specified minimum internal rate of return as determined in accordance with the contractual provisions of the fund.
	The lease pass-through funds have a one-time lease payment reset mechanism that occurs after the installation of all solar energy systems in a fund. As a result of this mechanism, the Company may be required to refund master lease prepayments previously received from investors. Any refunds of master lease prepayments would reduce the lease pass-through financing obligation.
	Letters of Credit
	As of March 31, 2015, the Company had $19.3 million of unused letters of credit outstanding, which carry a fee of 3.375% per annum.
	Other Contingencies
	In July 2012, the Company, along with other companies in the solar energy industry, received a subpoena from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of the Inspector General to deliver certain documents in the Company’s possession that were dated, created, revised or referred to after January 1, 2007 and that relate to the Company’s applications for U.S. Treasury grants or communications with certain other solar energy development companies or with certain firms that appraise solar energy property for U.S Treasury grant application purposes. The Inspector General and the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice are investigating the administration and implementation of the U.S Treasury grant program, including possible misrepresentations concerning the fair market value of the solar energy systems submitted by the Company in U.S. Treasury grant applications. If the Inspector General concludes that misrepresentations were made, the U.S. Department of Justice could decide to bring a civil action to recover amounts it believes were improperly paid to the Company. If the U.S. Department of Justice is successful in asserting this action, the Company could then be required to pay material damages and penalties for any funds received based on such misrepresentations, which, in turn, could require the Company to make indemnity payments to certain fund investors. The Company is unable to estimate the possible loss, if any, associated with this ongoing investigation as information is still being produced by the Company for further review by the Inspector General.
	On April 30, 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor, or DOL, notified the Company that it was undertaking a wage and hour investigation related to the Company’s Foster City, California facility. On February 28, 2014, the DOL informed the Company that it had made a preliminary determination that some of its employee positions were not properly classified but has made no assessment of damages or penalties. In March 2015, the Company resolved the investigation by entering into a settlement agreement with the DOL. The amount of the settlement was not material to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
	On March 28, 2014, a purported stockholder class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against the Company and two of its officers. The complaint alleges claims for violations of the federal securities laws, and seeks unspecified compensatory damages and other relief on behalf of a purported class of purchasers of our securities from March 6, 2013 to March 18, 2014. On April 16, 2015, the District Court dismissed the complaint. The plaintiffs have until June 19, 2015 to file an amended complaint to attempt to remedy the defects in the original complaint. The Company believes that the claims are without merit and intends to defend itself vigorously. The Company is unable to estimate the possible loss, if any, associated with this lawsuit.
	On June 5 and 11, 2014, stockholder derivative actions were filed in the Superior Court of California for the County of San Mateo, purportedly on behalf of the Company and against the board of directors, alleging that the board of directors breached its duties to the Company by failing to prevent the conduct alleged in the pending purported stockholder class action lawsuit. The Company and the individual board member defendants have filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. The Company is reviewing the claims asserted by the stockholders and is unable to estimate the possible loss, if any, associated with this lawsuit.
	From time to time, claims have been asserted, and may in the future be asserted, including claims from regulatory authorities related to labor practices and other matters. Such assertions arise in the normal course of the Company’s operations. The resolution of any such assertions or claims cannot be predicted with certainty.

Basic_and_Diluted_Net_Loss_Per

Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Share	3 Months Ended
Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Share	Mar. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Share	14. Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Share
	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net loss per share for the periods presented (in thousands, except share and per share amounts):

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015			2014
	Net loss attributable to stockholders	$	(21,525	)	$	(24,063	)
	Net loss attributable to common stockholders, basic	$	(21,525	)	$	(24,063	)
	Net loss attributable to common stockholders, diluted	$	(21,525	)	$	(24,063	)
	Weighted-average shares used to compute net loss per share attributable to common		96,680,069			91,412,126
	stockholders, basic		96,680,069			91,412,126
	Weighted-average shares used to compute net loss per share attributable to common		96,680,069			91,412,126
	stockholders, diluted		96,680,069			91,412,126
	Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic	$	(0.22	)	$	(0.26	)
	Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, diluted	$	(0.22	)	$	(0.26	)

	The following weighted-average outstanding shares of common stock equivalents were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share for the periods presented because including them would have been antidilutive:

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015			2014
	Common stock options		13,815,595			14,393,036
	Restricted stock units		1,322,010			93,875
	Convertible senior notes		10,505,947			3,729,795

Subsequent_Events

Subsequent Events	3 Months Ended
Subsequent Events	Mar. 31, 2015
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	15. Subsequent Events
	New Financing Funds
	In April 2015, the Company formed three new non-recourse financing funds with new and existing fund investors with an aggregate financing commitment of $205.0 million.
	Financing Fund Amendments
	In April and May 2015, the contractual terms of two existing financing funds were amended to increase the total available financing by $80.6 million in aggregate.
	Pay-down of Revolving Credit Facility
	On April 13, 2015, the Company paid-down $45.0 million of the outstanding principal of the revolving credit facility.
	New Solar Asset-backed Revolving Credit Facility and Pay-off of Debt
	On May 4, 2015, a subsidiary of the Company entered into an agreement with a syndicate of banks for a revolving credit facility with a total committed amount of $500.0 million. On the same date, the subsidiary drew $113.1 million under the revolving credit facility and used a portion of the proceeds to fully pay-off the term loan due in September 2015. The revolving credit facility bears interest at an annual rate of 2.75% plus, at the Company’s option, LIBOR, the commercial paper rate or the highest of (i) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, (ii) Bank of America’s published “prime rate” or (iii) LIBOR plus 1.00%. The revolving credit facility is secured by the Company’s interests in certain financing funds and is non-recourse to the Company’s other assets.

Summary_of_Significant_Account1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Procedures (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, and reflect the accounts and operations of the Company and those of its subsidiaries in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. In accordance with the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, 810, Consolidation , the Company consolidates any variable interest entity, or VIE, of which it is the primary beneficiary. The typical condition for a controlling financial interest ownership is holding a majority of the voting interests of an entity; however, a controlling financial interest may also exist in entities, such as VIEs, through arrangements that do not involve controlling voting interests. ASC 810 requires a variable interest holder to consolidate a VIE if that party has the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company does not consolidate a VIE in which it has a majority ownership interest when the Company is not considered the primary beneficiary. The Company has determined that it is the primary beneficiary of a number of VIEs (see Note 6, VIE Arrangements). The Company evaluates its relationships with all the VIEs on an ongoing basis to ensure that it continues to be the primary beneficiary. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

The Company and its subsidiaries’ fiscal quarters and years are the same as calendar quarters and years except for one subsidiary, Silevo, Inc., or Silevo, which continues to have fiscal quarters based on 13-week periods and fiscal years based on 52-week periods. Silevo’s first fiscal quarter of 2015 began on December 28, 2014 and ended on March 28, 2015, and it did not have any material activity after March 28, 2015 and through March 31, 2015.

Reclassifications

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Management regularly makes significant estimates and assumptions regarding the selling price of undelivered elements for revenue recognition purposes, the collectability of accounts and rebates receivable, the valuation of inventories, the labor costs for long-term contracts used as a basis for determining the percentage of completion for such contracts, the fair values and residual values of solar energy systems subject to leases, the accounting for business combinations, the fair values and useful lives of acquired tangible and intangible assets, the fair value of debt assumed under business combinations, the fair value of contingent consideration payable under business combinations, the fair value of short-term investments, the useful lives of solar energy systems, property, plant and equipment, the determination of accrued warranty, the determination of accrued performance guarantee, the determination of lease pass-through financing obligations, the discount rates used to determine the fair values of investment tax credits, the valuation of stock-based compensation, the determination of valuation allowances associated with deferred tax assets, asset impairment and other items. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions believed to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Short-Term Investments

The Company’s short-term investments are comprised of corporate debt securities and asset-backed securities. The Company classifies short-term investments as available-for-sale and carries them at fair value, with any unrealized gains or losses recognized as other comprehensive income or loss in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The specific identification method is used to determine the cost of any securities disposed of, with any realized gains or losses recognized as other income or expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. Short-term investments are anticipated to be used for current operations and are, therefore, classified as current assets even though their maturities may extend beyond one year. The Company periodically reviews short-term investments for impairment. In the event a decline in value is determined to be other-than-temporary, an impairment loss is recognized. When determining if a decline in value is other-than-temporary, the Company takes into consideration the current market conditions and the duration and severity of and the reason for the decline, as well as the likelihood that it would need to sell the security prior to a recovery of par value.

As of March 31, 2015, short-term investments were comprised of $115.0 million of corporate debt securities and $14.2 million of asset-backed securities. The costs of these securities approximated their fair values, and there were no material gross realized or unrealized gains, gross realized or unrealized losses or impairment losses recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2015. As of March 31, 2015, all short-term investments were scheduled to mature within the next twelve months.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements, clarifies that fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability.

ASC 820 requires that the valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. ASC 820 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes inputs that may be used to measure fair value as follows:

Level 1—Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2—Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

As of March 31, 2015, the assets and liabilities carried at fair value on a recurring basis included cash equivalents, short-term investments and contingent consideration.

As of March 31, 2015, the fair value of the Company’s cash equivalents, short-term investments and contingent consideration were as follows (in thousands):

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Cash equivalents:

Money market funds

43,082

—

Term deposits

—

3,001

—

Short-term investments:

Corporate debt securities

—

115,033

—

Asset-backed securities

—

14,133

—

Liabilities:

Contingent consideration

—

118,931

The Company classified its money market funds within Level 1 because their fair values are based on their quoted market prices. The Company classified its term deposits, corporate debt securities and asset-backed securities within Level 2 because their fair values are determined using alternative pricing sources or models that utilized market observable inputs to determine their fair values. The Company classified its contingent consideration within Level 3 because their fair values are determined using unobservable probability estimates and unobservable estimated discount rates applicable to the acquisition to determine the fair value. Furthermore, during the three months ended March 31, 2015, there were no transfers between the levels of the fair value hierarchy.

The contingent consideration is dependent on the achievement of specified production milestones for the acquired business. The fair value of the contingent consideration is directly proportional to the estimated probabilities of achievement of these milestones. As of March 31, 2015, the estimated probabilities ranged from 90% to 95%, the estimated discount rates ranged from 5.0% to 7.0%, $42.5 million was included under accrued and other current liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets and $76.4 million was included under other liabilities and deferred credits on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

The following table summarizes the activity of the Level 3 contingent consideration balance in the three months ended March 31, 2015 (in thousands):

Balance - beginning of the period

117,197

Change in fair value recorded in other expense - net

1,734

Balance - end of the period

118,931

The Company’s financial instruments that are not re-measured at fair value include accounts receivable, customer notes receivable, rebates receivable, accounts payable, customer deposits, distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests, the participation interest, solar asset-backed notes, convertible senior notes, Solar Bonds and long-term debt. The carrying values of these financial instruments other than customer notes receivable, the participation interest, solar asset-backed notes, convertible senior notes, Solar Bonds and long-term debt approximate their fair values due to the fact that they were short-term in nature at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 (Level 1).

The Company estimates the fair value of convertible senior notes based on their last actively traded prices (Level 1). The Company estimates the fair value of customer notes receivable, the participation interest, solar asset-backed notes, Solar Bonds and long-term debt based on rates currently offered for instruments with similar maturities and terms (Level 3).

The following table presents the estimated fair values of the participation interest, solar asset-backed notes and convertible senior notes (in thousands):

31-Mar-15

31-Dec-14

Participation interest

14,259

14,102

Solar asset-backed notes

320,756

328,313

Convertible senior notes

745,100

752,176

The Company has estimated the fair value of customer notes receivable, Solar Bonds and long-term debt to approximate their carrying values based on rates currently offered for instruments with similar maturities and terms.

Customer Notes Receivable

In determining the allowance and credit quality for customer loans under MyPower, the Company identifies significant customers with known disputes or collection issues and considers its historical level of credit losses and current economic trends that might impact the level of future credit losses. Customer notes receivable that are individually impaired are charged-off as a write-off of allowance for losses. As of March 31, 2015, there were no significant customers with known disputes or collection issues, and the amount of potentially uncollectible amounts was also insignificant. Accordingly, the Company did not establish an allowance for losses against customer notes receivable. In addition, there were no non-accrual or past due customer notes receivable as of March 31, 2015.

Deferred Revenue and Deferred Costs under MyPower Contracts

For solar energy systems sold under a MyPower contract, the Company initially defers the revenue associated with the sale of a solar energy system when it delivers a system that has passed inspection by the utility or the authority having jurisdiction. The Company recognizes revenue for the system on a cash basis over the term of the contract as the customer pays the loan’s principal and interest. The deferred revenue is included in the condensed consolidated balance sheets under current portion of deferred revenue for the portion expected to be recognized as revenue in the next 12 months, and the non-current portion is included under deferred revenue, net of current portion. The Company records a note receivable when the customer secures a loan, issued by a subsidiary of the Company, to finance the solar energy system purchase.

MyPower deferred revenue activity was as follows (in thousands):

As of and for the

Three Months Ended

March 31,

2015

Balance - beginning of the period

33,651

MyPower systems delivered under executed contracts

96,857

MyPower revenue recognized within solar energy systems and components sales

(1,013

)

Balance - end of the period

129,495

Of the balance outstanding as of March 31, 2015, $1.0 million is included in the condensed consolidated balance sheet under current portion of deferred revenue. The balances in the table above do not include $9.8 million allocated to remote monitoring services and $2.0 million allocated to sales taxes.

The costs associated with solar energy systems sold under MyPower contracts, including the costs of acquisition of solar energy systems component, personnel costs associated with system installations and costs to originate the contracts such as sales commissions, referral fees and some incremental contract administration costs, are initially capitalized as deferred costs. Subsequently these costs are recognized as a component of cost of revenue from solar energy systems and components sales for the costs associated with system components and installation, or as a component of operating expenses for costs associated with contract origination, generally in proportion to the reduction of the MyPower loan’s outstanding principal over 30 years. The deferred cost is included in the condensed consolidated balance sheets under prepaid expenses and other current assets for the portion expected to be recognized in the condensed consolidated income statement in the next twelve months, and the non-current portion is included under other assets. MyPower deferred costs activity was as follows (in thousands):

As of and for the

Three Months Ended

March 31,

2015

Balance - beginning of the period

13,571

MyPower systems delivered under executed contracts(1)

48,056

MyPower cost of revenue within solar energy systems and components sales

(454

)

Balance - end of the period

61,173

-1

Included in MyPower systems delivered under executed contracts was $6.2 million of MyPower contract origination costs incurred in the three months ended March 31, 2015.

Of the balance outstanding as of March 31, 2015, $0.4 million is included in the condensed consolidated balance sheet under prepaid and current assets.

Warranties

The Company warrants its products for various periods against defects in material or installation workmanship. The Company generally provides a warranty on the generating and non-generating parts of the solar energy systems it sells, including sales under MyPower contracts, of typically between 10 to 30 years. The manufacturer’s warranty on the solar energy systems’ components, which is typically passed-through to customers, ranges from 1 to 25 years.

The changes in the accrued warranty balance, recorded as a component of accrued and other current liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets, consisted of the following (in thousands):

As of and for the

Three Months Ended

March 31,

2015

Balance - beginning of the period

8,607

Reduction in liability (payments)

(43

)

Increase in liability (new customer warranties)

6,936

Balance - end of the period

15,500

Solar Energy Systems Performance Guarantees

The Company guarantees certain specified minimum solar energy production output for certain systems leased or sold to customers generally for a term up to 30 years. The Company monitors the solar energy systems to ensure that these outputs are being achieved. The Company evaluates if any amounts are due to its customers. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had recorded liabilities of $1.7 million and $1.6 million, respectively, under accrued and other current liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets, relating to these guarantees based on the Company’s assessment of its current exposure.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The Company accounts for comprehensive income (loss) in accordance with ASC 220, Comprehensive Income. Under ASC 220, the Company is required to report comprehensive income (loss), which includes net income (loss) as well as other comprehensive income (loss). There were no significant other comprehensive income (losses) and no significant differences between comprehensive loss as defined by ASC 220 and net loss as reported in the condensed consolidated statements of operations, for the periods presented.

Segment Information

Operating segments are defined as components of a company about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, or decision making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The executive team is the Company’s chief operating decision maker, which is comprised of the chief executive officer, the chief technology officer, the chief revenue officer, chief operating officer and the chief financial officer. Based on the financial information presented to and reviewed by the executive team in deciding how to allocate the resources and in assessing the performance of the Company, the Company has determined that it has a single operating and reporting segment: solar energy products and services. The Company’s principal operations, revenue and decision-making functions are located in the United States.

Basic and Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share

The Company’s basic net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders is calculated by dividing the net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period.

The diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders is computed by giving effect to all potential common stock equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury stock method or the if-converted method, as applicable. In periods when the Company incurred a net loss attributable to common stockholders, stock options, restricted stock units and convertible senior notes are considered to be common stock equivalents but have been excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders as their effect is antidilutive.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, to replace the existing revenue recognition criteria for contracts with customers and to establish the disclosure requirements for revenue from contracts with customers. The ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Adoption of the ASU is either retrospective to each prior period presented or retrospective with a cumulative adjustment to retained earnings or accumulated deficit as of the adoption date. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the ASU on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern, to provide guidance within GAAP requiring management to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and requiring related disclosures. The ASU is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016. The Company believes that the ASU will have no impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis, to amend the criteria for consolidation of certain legal entities. The ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Adoption of the ASU is either retrospective to each prior period presented or retrospective with a cumulative adjustment to retained earnings or accumulated deficit as of the adoption date. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the ASU on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, to require debt issuance costs to be presented as an offset against debt outstanding. The ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Adoption of the ASU is retrospective to each prior period presented. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of the ASU will have a material impact on its condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Summary_of_Significant_Account2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Procedures (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Fair Value of Company's Cash Equivalents, Short-Term Investments and Contingent Consideration	As of March 31, 2015, the fair value of the Company’s cash equivalents, short-term investments and contingent consideration were as follows (in thousands):

		Level 1			Level 2		Level 3
	Cash equivalents:
	Money market funds	$	43,082		$	—	$	—
	Term deposits	$	—		$	3,001	$	—
	Short-term investments:
	Corporate debt securities	$	—		$	115,033	$	—
	Asset-backed securities	$	—		$	14,133	$	—
	Liabilities:
	Contingent consideration	$	—		$	—	$	118,931

Summary of the Activity of the Level 3 Contingent Consideration	The following table summarizes the activity of the Level 3 contingent consideration balance in the three months ended March 31, 2015 (in thousands):

	Balance - beginning of the period	$	117,197
	Change in fair value recorded in other expense - net		1,734
	Balance - end of the period	$	118,931

Schedule of Estimated Fair Values	The following table presents the estimated fair values of the participation interest, solar asset-backed notes and convertible senior notes (in thousands):

		31-Mar-15			31-Dec-14
	Participation interest	$	14,259		$	14,102
	Solar asset-backed notes	$	320,756		$	328,313
	Convertible senior notes	$	745,100		$	752,176

Summary of MyPower Deferred Revenue Activity	MyPower deferred revenue activity was as follows (in thousands):

		As of and for the
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2015
	Balance - beginning of the period	$	33,651
	MyPower systems delivered under executed contracts		96,857
	MyPower revenue recognized within solar energy systems and components sales		(1,013	)
	Balance - end of the period	$	129,495

Summary of MyPower Deferred Cost Activity	MyPower deferred costs activity was as follows (in thousands):

		As of and for the
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2015
	Balance - beginning of the period	$	13,571
	MyPower systems delivered under executed contracts(1)		48,056
	MyPower cost of revenue within solar energy systems and components sales		(454	)
	Balance - end of the period	$	61,173

	Included in MyPower systems delivered under executed contracts was $6.2 million of MyPower contract origination costs incurred in the three months ended March 31, 2015.
Schedule of Product Warranty Liability	The changes in the accrued warranty balance, recorded as a component of accrued and other current liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets, consisted of the following (in thousands):

		As of and for the
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2015
	Balance - beginning of the period	$	8,607
	Reduction in liability (payments)		(43	)
	Increase in liability (new customer warranties)		6,936
	Balance - end of the period	$	15,500

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets1

Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables)	3 Months Ended
Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables)	Mar. 31, 2015
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary of Intangible Assets	The following is a summary of intangible assets as of March 31, 2015 (in thousands):


		Weighted-
		average
		useful life				Accumulated
		(in years)		Gross		amortization			Net
	Developed technology - Silevo		10	$	115,000	$	(5,971	)	$	109,029
	Developed technology - Zep Solar		7		60,100		(11,217	)		48,883
	Trademarks and trade names		7		24,700		(4,610	)		20,090
	Marketing database		5		17,427		(5,470	)		11,957
	PowerSaver agreement		10		17,077		(2,680	)		14,397
	Non-compete agreement		5		6,959		(2,184	)		4,775
	Other		6		10,028		(3,609	)		6,419
	Total		8.33	$	251,291	$	(35,741	)	$	215,550

	The following is a summary of intangible assets as of December 31, 2014 (in thousands):

									Transfers to
		Weighted-							solar energy
		average							systems,			Write-offs
		useful life				Accumulated			leased and to be			and
		(in years)		Gross		amortization			leased			cancellations			Net
	Developed technology - Silevo		10	$	115,000	$	(3,096	)	$	—		$	—			111,904
	Developed technology - Zep Solar		7		60,100		(9,070	)		—			—			51,030
	Trademarks and trade names		7		24,700		(3,728	)		—			—			20,972
	Marketing database		5		17,427		(4,599	)		—			—			12,828
	PowerSaver agreement		10		17,077		(2,253	)		—			—			14,824
	Solar energy systems backlog		30		12,434		—			(10,755	)		(1,679	)		—
	Non-compete agreement		5		6,959		(1,836	)		—			—			5,123
	Other		6		10,028		(3,072	)		—			—			6,956
	Total		9.35	$	263,725	$	(27,654	)	$	(10,755	)	$	(1,679	)	$	223,637

Summary of Amortization Expense for Identifiable Purchased Intangible Assets	Amortization expense for the identifiable purchased intangible assets for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 was allocated as follows (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended March 31,
			2015	2014
	Included in operating leases and solar energy incentives cost of revenue	$	4,281	$	893
	Included in solar energy systems and components sales cost of revenue		882		1,906
	Total included in cost of revenue		5,163		2,799
	Included in sales and marketing		2,924		2,924
	Total amortization expense	$	8,087	$	5,723

Summary of Expected Future Amortization Expense for Intangible Assets	The total future amortization expense for intangible assets is expected to be (in thousands):

		Cost of Revenue		Operating Expense		Total
	Nine months ending December 31, 2015	$	15,490	$	8,772	$	24,262
	2016		20,643		11,203		31,846
	2017		20,486		10,153		30,639
	2018		20,486		8,582		29,068
	2019		20,486		5,236		25,722
	Thereafter		64,398		9,615		74,013
	Total	$	161,989	$	53,561	$	215,550

Selected_Balance_Sheet_Compone1

Selected Balance Sheet Components (Tables)	3 Months Ended
Selected Balance Sheet Components (Tables)	Mar. 31, 2015
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Components of Balance Sheet	Selected components of the condensed consolidated balance sheets were as follows (in thousands):


			31-Mar-15			31-Dec-14
	Inventories:
	Raw materials		$	223,507		$	209,251
	Work in progress			4,169			7,972
	Total		$	227,676		$	217,223

	Solar Energy Systems, Leased and To Be Leased - Net:
	Solar energy systems leased to customers		$	2,670,720		$	2,388,548
	Initial direct costs related to solar energy systems leased to customers			236,559			207,537
				2,907,279			2,596,085
	Less accumulated depreciation and amortization			(183,700	)		(159,160	)
				2,723,579			2,436,925
	Solar energy systems under construction			168,949			131,048
	Solar energy systems to be leased to customers			181,072			228,823
	Solar energy systems, leased and to be leased - net(1)(2)		$	3,073,600		$	2,796,796

	Accrued and Other Current Liabilities:
	Accrued compensation		$	59,944		$	50,414
	Current portion of contingent consideration			42,536			41,978
	Accrued expenses			43,588			27,485
	Accrued sales and use taxes			10,626			10,438
	Accrued warranty			15,500			8,607
	Accrued professional services fees			5,862			6,813
	Current portion of capital lease obligation			3,820			3,430
	Current portion of deferred gain on sale-leaseback			3,243			3,243
	transactions			3,243			3,243
	Total		$	185,119		$	152,408

	Other Liabilities and Deferred Credits:
	Deferred gain on sale-leaseback transactions, net of current portion		$	53,979		$	54,790
	Build-to-suit lease liability			52,900			26,450
	Deferred rent expense			12,566			4,838
	Capital lease obligation, net of current portion			27,592			27,791
	Liability for receipts from investors			4,401			3,213
	Contingent consideration, net of current portion			76,395			75,219
	Participation interest			15,750			15,556
	Other noncurrent liabilities			38,023			36,617
	Total		$	281,606		$	244,474

	-1	Included in solar energy systems leased to customers as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was $66.4 million related to capital leased assets with an accumulated depreciation of $8.6 million and $7.9 million, respectively.
	-2	Included in solar energy systems leased to customer as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 was $4.2 million and $3.5 million, respectively related to energy storage systems with an accumulated depreciation of $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively.

Indebtedness_Tables

Indebtedness (Tables)	3 Months Ended
Indebtedness (Tables)	Mar. 31, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary of Debt	The following is a summary of the Company’s debt as of March 31, 2015 (dollars in thousands):

		Unpaid						Unused
		Principal		Carrying Value, Net of Fees				Borrowing
		Balance		Current		Long-Term		Capacity		Interest Rate			Maturity Dates
	Recourse debt:
	Revolving credit facility	$	175,000	$	—	$	172,321	$	5,664	3.40%			December 2016
	Vehicle loans		8,973		2,552		6,421		—	1.9%-7.5%			April 2015 -
	Vehicle loans		8,973		2,552		6,421		—	1.9%-7.5%			June 2019
	2.75% Convertible senior notes due in 2018		230,000		—		230,000		—	2.80%			November 2018
	1.625% Convertible senior notes due in 2019		566,000		—		566,000		—	1.60%			November 2019
	Solar Bonds		9,714		1,658		7,982		—	1.6%-5.8%			October 2015 -
	Solar Bonds		9,714		1,658		7,982		—	1.6%-5.8%			March 2030
	Solar Bonds issued to related parties		90,530		90,330		200		—	2.0%-4.0%			October 2015 -
	Solar Bonds issued to related parties		90,530		90,330		200		—	2.0%-4.0%			October 2021
	Total recourse debt		1,080,217		94,540		982,924		5,664
	Non-recourse debt:
	Term loan assumed from Silevo acquisition		9,160		9,160		—		—	7.80%			June 2015
	Term loan due in September 2015		79,000		—		76,968		—		3.7	%	September 2015
	Term loan due in May 2016		34,622		—		32,753		90,378	3.20%			May 2016
	Term loan due in December 2016		182,416		—		179,275		67,584	3.4%-3.5%			December 2016
	MyPower revolving credit facility		—		—		—		200,000				January 2017
	Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2013-1		48,839		3,332		45,507		—	4.80%			November 2038
	Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-1		67,067		2,823		64,244		—	4.60%			Apr-44
	Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-2		196,250		6,355		189,895		—	4.0%-Class A			Jul-44
	Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-2		196,250		6,355		189,895		—	5.4%-Class B			Jul-44
	Total non-recourse debt		617,354		21,670		588,642		357,962
	Total debt	$	1,697,571	$	116,210	$	1,571,566	$	363,626

	The following is a summary of the Company’s debt as of December 31, 2014 (dollars in thousands):

		Unpaid						Unused
		Principal		Carrying Value, Net of Fees				Borrowing
		Balance		Current		Long-Term		Capacity		Interest Rate		Maturity Date
	Recourse debt:
	Revolving credit facility	$	130,000	$	—	$	126,939	$	54,935	3.40%		December 2016
	Vehicle loans		9,724		2,647		7,077		—	1.9%-7.5%		March 2015 -
	Vehicle loans		9,724		2,647		7,077		—	1.9%-7.5%		June 2019
	2.75% Convertible senior notes due in 2018		230,000		—		230,000		—	2.80%		November 2018
	1.625% Convertible senior notes due in 2019		566,000		—		566,000		—	1.60%		November 2019
	Solar Bonds		3,413		820		2,593		—	2.0%-4.0%		October 2015 -
	Solar Bonds		3,413		820		2,593		—	2.0%-4.0%		October 2021
	Solar Bonds issued to related parties		530		330		200		—	2.0%-4.0%		October 2015 -
	Solar Bonds issued to related parties		530		330		200		—	2.0%-4.0%		October 2021
	Total recourse debt		939,667		3,797		932,809		54,935
	Non-recourse debt:
	Term loan assumed from Silevo acquisition		9,134		9,134		—		—	7.80%		June 2015
	Term loan due in May 2016		34,195		—		33,497		90,805	3.20%		May 2016
	Term loan due in December 2016		122,655		—		120,108		127,345	3.4%-3.5%		December 2016
	Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2013-1		49,519		3,291		46,228		—	4.80%		November 2038
	Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-1		67,676		2,779		64,897		—	4.60%		Apr-44
	Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-2		201,494		7,504		193,268		—	4.0%-Class A		Jul-44
	Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-2		201,494		7,504		193,268		—	5.4%-Class B		Jul-44
	Total non-recourse debt		484,673		22,708		457,998		218,150
	Total debt	$	1,424,340	$	26,505	$	1,390,807	$	273,085

VIE_Arrangements_Tables

VIE Arrangements (Tables)	3 Months Ended
VIE Arrangements (Tables)	Mar. 31, 2015
Summary of Number of Current VIE Funds by Classification of Investor, the Carrying Value, Total Investor Contributions Received and Undrawn Investor Contributions	The following table shows the number of current VIE funds by classification of investor, the carrying value of solar energy systems in the funds, the total investor contributions received and undrawn investor contributions as of March 31, 2015 under these funds (in thousands, except for number of funds):

				Total				Carrying
				Investor		Undrawn		Value of
	Investor	Number		Contributions		Investor		Solar Energy
	Classification	of Funds		Received		Contributions		Systems
	Financial institutions		17	$	1,071,405	$	96,346	$	1,241,970
	Corporations		6		281,165		283,234		302,004
	Utilities		2		247,286		18,750		251,992
	Various other investors		1		3,607		-		3,300
	Total		26	$	1,603,463	$	398,330	$	1,799,266

Carrying Values of Assets and Liabilities of Subsidiary in Consolidated Balance Sheets	The aggregate carrying values of the VIEs’ assets and liabilities, after elimination of intercompany transactions and balances, in the condensed consolidated balance sheets were as follows (in thousands):

		31-Mar-15		31-Dec-14
	Assets
	Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	27,170	$	26,419
	Restricted cash		487		106
	Accounts receivable - net		9,891		6,769
	Rebates receivable		21,686		25,397
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets		556		615
	Total current assets		59,790		59,306
	Restricted cash		254		300
	Solar energy systems, leased and to be leased - net		1,799,266		1,581,459
	Other assets		4,715		3,780
	Total assets	$	1,864,025	$	1,644,845
	Liabilities
	Current liabilities:
	Distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable	$	9,065	$	8,552
	noncontrolling interests	$	9,065	$	8,552
	Current portion of deferred U.S. Treasury grant income		6,501		6,502
	Accrued and other current liabilities		846		336
	Customer deposits		4,771		6,405
	Current portion of deferred revenue		18,541		16,746
	Total current liabilities		39,724		38,541
	Deferred revenue, net of current portion		268,243		256,200
	Deferred U.S. Treasury grant income, net of current portion		168,912		170,548
	Other liabilities and deferred credits		15,088		10,825
	Total liabilities	$	491,967	$	476,114

Silevo's Joint Venture [Member]
Carrying Values of Assets and Liabilities of Subsidiary in Consolidated Balance Sheets	The aggregate carrying values of the JV’s assets and liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets were as follows (in thousands):
		31-Mar-15		31-Dec-14
	Assets
	Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,058	$	1,401
	Inventories		1,112		614
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets		600		1,224
	Total current assets		3,770		3,239
	Property, plant and equipment - net		24,437		24,286
	Total assets	$	28,207	$	27,525
	Liabilities
	Current liabilities:
	Accounts payable	$	2,896	$	2,748
	Accrued and other current liabilities		611		633
	Current portion of long-term debt		9,160		9,134
	Total current liabilities		12,667		12,515
	Total liabilities	$	12,667	$	12,515

Redeemable_Noncontrolling_Inte1

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests in Subsidiaries (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Activity of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests in Subsidiaries	The activity of the redeemable noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries balance was as follows (in thousands):

	Balance at December 31, 2014		186,788
	Contributions from redeemable noncontrolling interests		108,038
	Net loss		(39,406	)
	Distributions to redeemable noncontrolling interests		(8,928	)
	Balance at March 31, 2015	$	246,492

Equity_Tables

Equity (Tables)	3 Months Ended
Equity (Tables)	Mar. 31, 2015
Equity [Abstract]
Schedule of Changes in Total Stockholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interests	The changes in total stockholders’ equity and noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries were as follows (in thousands):

		Total			Noncontrolling
		Stockholders'			Interests in			Total
		Equity			Subsidiaries			Equity
	Balance, December 31, 2014	$	745,642		$	409,942		$	1,155,584
	Contributions from noncontrolling interests		—			68,280			68,280
	Stock-based compensation expense		24,453			—			24,453
	Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options for cash		3,645			—			3,645
	Net loss		(21,525	)		(86,006	)		(107,531	)
	Distributions to noncontrolling interests		—			(8,442	)		(8,442	)
	Balance, March 31, 2015	$	752,215		$	383,774		$	1,135,989

Equity_Award_Plans_Tables

Equity Award Plans (Tables)	3 Months Ended
Equity Award Plans (Tables)	Mar. 31, 2015
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]
Summary of Stock Option Activity	A summary of stock option activity is as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

								Weighted-
					Weighted-			Average
					Average			Remaining		Aggregate
		Stock			Exercise			Contractual		Intrinsic
		Options			Price			Term		Value
	Outstanding - December 31, 2014		13,950			32.89			7.64		342,293
	Granted (weighted-average fair value of $34.48)		244			51.16
	Exercised		(310	)		11.75					11,601
	Canceled		(301	)		58.78
	Outstanding - March 31, 2015		13,583		$	33.12			7.49	$	308,354
	Options vested and exercisable - March 31, 2015		7,036		$	15.8			6.3	$	261,547
	Options vested and expected to vest - March 31, 2015		12,574		$	31.36			7.37	$	303,893

Summary of Fair Value of Stock Options Granted Using Weighted-Average Assumptions	The fair values were estimated on each grant date with the following weighted-average assumptions:

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015			2014
	Dividend yield		0	%		0	%
	Annual risk-free rate of return		1.56	%		2.01	%
	Expected volatility		76.9	%		84.86	%
	Expected term (years)		6.12			6.2

Summary of RSU Activity	A summary of RSU activity is as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

					Weighted-
		Restricted			Average
		Stock			Fair
		Units			Value
	Outstanding - December 31, 2014		1,029			61.16
	Granted		696			53.76
	Released		(25	)		65.87
	Cancelled		(60	)		57.48
	Outstanding - March 31, 2015		1,640		$	58.09
	Expected to vest - March 31, 2015		1,295		$	58.16

Summary of Stock-Based Compensation Expense Capitalized	The amount of stock-based compensation expense that has been capitalized is as follows (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015			2014
	Capitalized under:
	Inventories	$	250		$	108
	Other assets	$	642		$	—
	Property, plant and equipment - net	$	606		$	1,480
	Solar energy systems, leased and to be leased - net	$	4,638		$	3,642

Summary of Stock-Based Compensation Expense Recognized	Stock-based compensation expense is included in cost of revenue and operating expenses as follows (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015			2014
	Total cost of revenue	$	320		$	826
	Sales and marketing	$	3,765		$	3,040
	General and administrative	$	10,143		$	8,475
	Research and development	$	4,133		$	506

Related_Party_Transactions_Tab

Related Party Transactions (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Components of Related Party Transactions	The Company’s operations included the following related party transactions (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015		2014
	Expenditures:
	Purchases of inventories or equipment from related parties	$	797	$	960
	Fees paid or payable to related parties (included in sales	$	—	$	64
	and marketing expense)
	Interest paid or payable to related parties (included in	$	8	$	—
	interest expense — net)

Summary of Related Party Balances	Related party balances were comprised of the following (in thousands):

		31-Mar-15		31-Dec-14
	Due from related parties (included in accounts receivable)	$	30	$	30
	Due to related parties (included in accounts payable)	$	693	$	300
	Due to related parties (included in solar bonds)	$	90,530	$	530
	Due to related parties (included in accrued and	$	7	$	3
	other current liabilities)

Basic_and_Diluted_Net_Loss_Per1

Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Share (Tables)	3 Months Ended
Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Share (Tables)	Mar. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Computation of Company's Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Share	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net loss per share for the periods presented (in thousands, except share and per share amounts):

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015			2014
	Net loss attributable to stockholders	$	(21,525	)	$	(24,063	)
	Net loss attributable to common stockholders, basic	$	(21,525	)	$	(24,063	)
	Net loss attributable to common stockholders, diluted	$	(21,525	)	$	(24,063	)
	Weighted-average shares used to compute net loss per share attributable to common		96,680,069			91,412,126
	stockholders, basic		96,680,069			91,412,126
	Weighted-average shares used to compute net loss per share attributable to common		96,680,069			91,412,126
	stockholders, diluted		96,680,069			91,412,126
	Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic	$	(0.22	)	$	(0.26	)
	Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, diluted	$	(0.22	)	$	(0.26	)

Schedule of Weighted-Average Outstanding Shares of Common Stock Equivalents Excluded from Computation of Diluted Net Loss Per Share	The following weighted-average outstanding shares of common stock equivalents were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share for the periods presented because including them would have been antidilutive:

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015			2014
	Common stock options		13,815,595			14,393,036
	Restricted stock units		1,322,010			93,875
	Convertible senior notes		10,505,947			3,729,795

Organization_Additional_Inform

Organization - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended
Organization - Additional Information (Detail)	Mar. 31, 2015
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Solarcity corporation, date of incorporation	21-Jun-06

Summary_of_Significant_Account3

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Procedures - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Short-term investments	$129,166,000	$138,311,000
Gross unrealized gains or losses	0
Gross realized gains or losses	0
Accrued and other current liabilities	185,119,000	152,408,000
Other liabilities and deferred credits	281,606,000	244,474,000
Past due customer notes receivable	0
Non-accrual customer notes receivable	0
Current portion of deferred revenue	90,009,000	86,238,000
Deferred revenue	129,495,000	33,651,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	65,442,000	55,729,000
Company generally provides a warranty on the generating and non-generating parts of the solar energy systems	10 to 30 years
Liability recorded relating to guarantees	1,700,000	1,600,000
MyPower Program [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Current portion of deferred revenue	1,000,000
Loan outstanding period	30 years
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	400,000
MyPower Program [Member] \| Remote Monitoring Services [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	9,800,000
MyPower Program [Member] \| Sales Taxes [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	2,000,000
Manufacturer [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Company generally provides a warranty on the generating and non-generating parts of the solar energy systems	1 to 25 years
Level 3 [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Accrued and other current liabilities	42,500,000
Other liabilities and deferred credits	76,400,000
Minimum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Probability of Default	90.00%
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	5.00%
Initial direct costs related to solar energy systems leased to customers	10 years
Maximum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Probability of Default	95.00%
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	7.00%
Initial direct costs related to solar energy systems leased to customers	30 years
Corporate Debt Securities [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Short-term investments	115,000,000
Asset- backed Securities [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Short-term investments	$14,200,000

Summary_of_Significant_Account4

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Procedures - Fair Value of Company's Cash Equivalents, Short-Term Investments and Contingent Consideration (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Short-term investments:
Short-term investments	$129,166	$138,311
Liabilities:
Contingent consideration	118,931	117,197
Level 3 [Member] \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Liabilities:
Contingent consideration	118,931
Money Market Funds [Member] \| Level 1 [Member] \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Cash equivalents:
Cash equivalents	43,082
Term Deposits [Member] \| Level 2 [Member] \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Cash equivalents:
Cash equivalents	3,001
Corporate Debt Securities [Member]
Short-term investments:
Short-term investments	115,000
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] \| Level 2 [Member] \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Short-term investments:
Short-term investments	115,033
Asset- backed Securities [Member]
Short-term investments:
Short-term investments	14,200
Asset- backed Securities [Member] \| Level 2 [Member] \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Short-term investments:
Short-term investments	$14,133

Summary_of_Significant_Account5

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Procedures - Summary of the Activity of the Level 3 Contingent Consideration (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Balance - beginning of the period	$117,197
Change in fair value recorded in other expense - net	1,734
Balance - end of the period	$118,931

Summary_of_Significant_Account6

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Procedures - Schedule of Estimated Fair Values (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Participation interest [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Estimated fair value	$14,259	$14,102
Solar asset-backed notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Estimated fair value	320,756	328,313
Convertible senior notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Estimated fair value	$745,100	$752,176

Summary_of_Significant_Account7

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Procedures - Summary of MyPower Deferred Revenue Activity (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
Deferred Revenue [Abstract]
Balance - beginning of the period	$33,651
MyPower systems delivered under executed contracts	96,857
MyPower revenue recognized within solar energy systems and components sales	-1,013
Balance - end of the period	$129,495

Summary_of_Significant_Account8

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Procedures - Summary of MyPower Deferred Cost Activity (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Balance - beginning of the period	$13,571
MyPower systems delivered under executed contracts	48,056
MyPower cost of revenue within solar energy systems and components sales	-454
Balance - end of the period	$61,173

Summary_of_Significant_Account9

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Procedures - Summary of MyPower Deferred Cost Activity (Parenthetical) (Detail) (MyPower Program [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
MyPower Program [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies And Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Line Items]
Deferred contract origination cost	$6.20

Recovered_Sheet1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Procedures - Schedule of Changes in Accrued Warranty Balance (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
Movement In Standard Product Warranty Accrual Roll Forward
Balance - beginning of the period	$8,607
Reduction in liability (payments)	-43
Increase in liability (new customer warranties)	6,936
Balance - end of the period	$15,500

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets2

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Summary of Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets, Weighted-average useful life (in years)	8 years 3 months 29 days	9 years 4 months 6 days
Intangible Assets acquired, Gross	$251,291	$263,725
Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	-35,741	-27,654
Intangible Assets, Transfer to solar energy systems, leased and to be leased		-10,755
Intangible Assets, Write offs and cancellations		-1,679
Intangible Assets, Net	215,550	223,637
Developed Technology Rights [Member] \| Silevo, Inc. [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets, Weighted-average useful life (in years)	10 years	10 years
Intangible Assets acquired, Gross	115,000	115,000
Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	-5,971	-3,096
Intangible Assets, Net	109,029	111,904
Developed Technology Rights [Member] \| Zep Solar [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets, Weighted-average useful life (in years)	7 years	7 years
Intangible Assets acquired, Gross	60,100	60,100
Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	-11,217	-9,070
Intangible Assets, Net	48,883	51,030
Trademarks and Trade Names [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets, Weighted-average useful life (in years)	7 years	7 years
Intangible Assets acquired, Gross	24,700	24,700
Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	-4,610	-3,728
Intangible Assets, Net	20,090	20,972
Computer Software, Intangible Asset [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets, Weighted-average useful life (in years)	5 years	5 years
Intangible Assets acquired, Gross	17,427	17,427
Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	-5,470	-4,599
Intangible Assets, Net	11,957	12,828
Power Saver Agreement [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets, Weighted-average useful life (in years)	10 years	10 years
Intangible Assets acquired, Gross	17,077	17,077
Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	-2,680	-2,253
Intangible Assets, Net	14,397	14,824
Customer Lists [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets, Weighted-average useful life (in years)		30 years
Intangible Assets acquired, Gross		12,434
Intangible Assets, Transfer to solar energy systems, leased and to be leased		-10,755
Intangible Assets, Write offs and cancellations		-1,679
Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets, Weighted-average useful life (in years)	5 years	5 years
Intangible Assets acquired, Gross	6,959	6,959
Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	-2,184	-1,836
Intangible Assets, Net	4,775	5,123
Other [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets, Weighted-average useful life (in years)	6 years	6 years
Intangible Assets acquired, Gross	10,028	10,028
Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	-3,609	-3,072
Intangible Assets, Net	$6,419	$6,956

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets3

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Amortization Expense for Identifiable Purchased Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total amortization expense	$8,087	$5,723
Operating leases and solar energy incentives cost of revenue [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total amortization expense	4,281	893
Solar energy systems and components sales cost of revenue [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total amortization expense	882	1,906
Cost of Revenue [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total amortization expense	5,163	2,799
Sales and marketing [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total amortization expense	$2,924	$2,924

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets4

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Intangible assets impairment	$0
Carrying value of goodwill	$315,900,000	$315,900,000

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets5

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Summary of Expected Future Amortization Expense for Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Nine months ending December 31, 2015	$24,262
2016	31,846
2017	30,639
2018	29,068
2019	25,722
Thereafter	74,013
Total	215,550
Cost of Revenue [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Nine months ending December 31, 2015	15,490
2016	20,643
2017	20,486
2018	20,486
2019	20,486
Thereafter	64,398
Total	161,989
Operating Expense [Member]
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Nine months ending December 31, 2015	8,772
2016	11,203
2017	10,153
2018	8,582
2019	5,236
Thereafter	9,615
Total	$53,561

Selected_Balance_Sheet_Compone2

Selected Balance Sheet Components - Components of Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Inventories:
Raw materials	$223,507	$209,251
Work in progress	4,169	7,972
Total	227,676	217,223
Solar Energy Systems, Leased and To Be Leased - Net:
Solar energy systems leased to customers	2,670,720	2,388,548
Initial direct costs related to solar energy systems leased to customers	236,559	207,537
Solar energy systems, leased and to be leased, gross	2,907,279	2,596,085
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	-183,700	-159,160
Solar energy systems, leased and to be leased gross, less accumulated depreciation and amortization	2,723,579	2,436,925
Solar energy systems under construction	168,949	131,048
Solar energy systems to be leased to customers	181,072	228,823
Solar energy systems, leased and to be leased - net	3,073,600	2,796,796
Accrued and Other Current Liabilities:
Accrued compensation	59,944	50,414
Current portion of contingent consideration	42,536	41,978
Accrued expenses	43,588	27,485
Accrued sales and use taxes	10,626	10,438
Accrued warranty	15,500	8,607
Accrued professional services fees	5,862	6,813
Current portion of capital lease obligation	3,820	3,430
Current portion of deferred gain on sale-leaseback transactions	3,243	3,243
Total	185,119	152,408
Other Liabilities and Deferred Credits:
Deferred gain on sale-leaseback transactions, net of current portion	53,979	54,790
Build-to-suit lease liability	52,900	26,450
Deferred rent expense	12,566	4,838
Capital lease obligation, net of current portion	27,592	27,791
Liability for receipts from investors	4,401	3,213
Contingent consideration, net of current portion	76,395	75,219
Participation interest	15,750	15,556
Other noncurrent liabilities	38,023	36,617
Total	$281,606	$244,474

Selected_Balance_Sheet_Compone3

Selected Balance Sheet Components - Components of Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Components Of Balance Sheet [Line Items]
Capital leased assets	$66.40	$66.40
Accumulated depreciation on capital leased assets	8.6	7.9
Energy Storage Systems [Member]
Components Of Balance Sheet [Line Items]
Capital leased assets	4.2	3.5
Accumulated depreciation on capital leased assets	$0.20	$0.10

Indebtedness_Summary_of_Debt_D

Indebtedness - Summary of Debt (Detail) (USD $)	0 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 23, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance, Carrying Value			$1,697,571	$1,424,340
Current, Carrying Value, Net of Fees			116,210	26,505
Long-Term, Carrying Value, Net of Fees			1,571,566	1,390,807
Unused Borrowing Capacity			363,626	273,085
2.75% Convertible senior notes due in 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Date	1-Nov-18
Interest Rate	2.75%
1.625% Convertible senior notes due in 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Date		1-Nov-19
Interest Rate					1.63%
Recourse debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance, Carrying Value			1,080,217	939,667
Current, Carrying Value, Net of Fees			94,540	3,797
Long-Term, Carrying Value, Net of Fees			982,924	932,809
Unused Borrowing Capacity			5,664	54,935
Recourse debt [Member] \| Revolving credit facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance, Carrying Value			175,000	130,000
Long-Term, Carrying Value, Net of Fees			172,321	126,939
Unused Borrowing Capacity			5,664	54,935
Maturity Date			31-Dec-16	31-Dec-16
Interest Rate			3.40%	3.40%
Recourse debt [Member] \| Vehicle loans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance, Carrying Value			8,973	9,724
Current, Carrying Value, Net of Fees			2,552	2,647
Long-Term, Carrying Value, Net of Fees			6,421	7,077
Maturity Date, Start			30-Apr-15	31-Mar-15
Maturity Date, End			30-Jun-19	30-Jun-19
Interest Rate, Low			1.90%	1.90%
Interest Rate, High			7.50%	7.50%
Recourse debt [Member] \| 2.75% Convertible senior notes due in 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance, Carrying Value			230,000	230,000
Long-Term, Carrying Value, Net of Fees			230,000	230,000
Maturity Date			30-Nov-18	30-Nov-18
Interest Rate			2.80%	2.80%
Recourse debt [Member] \| 1.625% Convertible senior notes due in 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance, Carrying Value			566,000	566,000
Long-Term, Carrying Value, Net of Fees			566,000	566,000
Maturity Date			30-Nov-19	30-Nov-19
Interest Rate			1.60%	1.60%
Recourse debt [Member] \| Solar Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance, Carrying Value			9,714	3,413
Current, Carrying Value, Net of Fees			1,658	820
Long-Term, Carrying Value, Net of Fees			7,982	2,593
Maturity Date, Start			31-Oct-15	31-Oct-15
Maturity Date, End			31-Mar-30	31-Oct-21
Interest Rate, Low			1.60%	2.00%
Interest Rate, High			5.80%	4.00%
Recourse debt [Member] \| Solar Bonds issued to related parties [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance, Carrying Value			90,530	530
Current, Carrying Value, Net of Fees			90,330	330
Long-Term, Carrying Value, Net of Fees			200	200
Maturity Date, Start			31-Oct-15	31-Oct-15
Maturity Date, End			30-Oct-21	31-Oct-21
Interest Rate, Low			2.00%	2.00%
Interest Rate, High			4.00%	4.00%
Non-recourse debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance, Carrying Value			617,354	484,673
Current, Carrying Value, Net of Fees			21,670	22,708
Long-Term, Carrying Value, Net of Fees			588,642	457,998
Unused Borrowing Capacity			357,962	218,150
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Term loan assumed from Silevo acquisition [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance, Carrying Value			9,160	9,134
Current, Carrying Value, Net of Fees			9,160	9,134
Maturity Date			30-Jun-15	30-Jun-15
Interest Rate			7.80%	7.80%
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Term loan due in September 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance, Carrying Value			79,000
Long-Term, Carrying Value, Net of Fees			76,968
Maturity Date			30-Sep-15
Interest Rate			3.70%
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Term loan due in May 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance, Carrying Value			34,622	34,195
Long-Term, Carrying Value, Net of Fees			32,753	33,497
Unused Borrowing Capacity			90,378	90,805
Maturity Date			31-May-16	31-May-16
Interest Rate			3.20%	3.20%
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Term loan due in December 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance, Carrying Value			182,416	122,655
Long-Term, Carrying Value, Net of Fees			179,275	120,108
Unused Borrowing Capacity			67,584	127,345
Maturity Date			31-Dec-16	31-Dec-16
Interest Rate, Low			3.40%	3.40%
Interest Rate, High			3.50%	3.50%
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| MyPower revolving credit facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unused Borrowing Capacity			200,000
Maturity Date			31-Jan-17
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2013-1 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance, Carrying Value			48,839	49,519
Current, Carrying Value, Net of Fees			3,332	3,291
Long-Term, Carrying Value, Net of Fees			45,507	46,228
Maturity Date			30-Nov-38	30-Nov-38
Interest Rate			4.80%	4.80%
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-1 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance, Carrying Value			67,067	67,676
Current, Carrying Value, Net of Fees			2,823	2,779
Long-Term, Carrying Value, Net of Fees			64,244	64,897
Maturity Date			30-Apr-44	30-Apr-44
Interest Rate			4.60%	4.60%
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-2 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance, Carrying Value			196,250	201,494
Current, Carrying Value, Net of Fees			6,355	7,504
Long-Term, Carrying Value, Net of Fees			$189,895	$193,268
Maturity Date			31-Jul-44	31-Jul-44
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-2 [Member] \| Class A [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate			4.00%	4.00%
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-2 [Member] \| Class B [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate			5.40%	5.40%

Indebtedness_Additional_Inform

Indebtedness - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

0 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

Oct. 10, 2014

Oct. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2015

Sep. 30, 2014

Mar. 31, 2015

Nov. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2015

Mar. 20, 2014

Sep. 23, 2014

Feb. 20, 2014

Feb. 04, 2014

23-May-14

Jul. 31, 2014

Jan. 09, 2015

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Convertible senior notes aggregate principal amount

$66,000,000

Convertible senior notes issued date

10-Oct-14

2.75% Convertible senior notes due in 2018 [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Convertible senior notes aggregate principal amount

230,000,000

Proceeds from convertible debt

222,500,000

Debt instrument maturity date

1-Nov-18

Interest Rate

2.75%

Convertible senior notes, conversion amount

1,000

Convertible senior notes, conversion ratio

16.2165

Convertible senior notes, conversion price

$61.67

Convertible senior notes, description

The convertible senior note holders may require the Company to repurchase their convertible senior notes for cash only under certain defined fundamental changes.

1.625% Convertible senior notes due in 2019 [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Proceeds from convertible debt

64,500,000

Debt instrument maturity date

1-Nov-19

Interest Rate

1.63%

Convertible senior notes, conversion amount

1,000

Convertible senior notes, conversion ratio

11.972

Convertible senior notes, conversion price

$83.53

Convertible senior notes, description

The convertible senior note holders may require the Company to repurchase their convertible senior notes for cash only under certain defined fundamental changes.

Capped call option agreement notional amount

7,600,000

57,600,000

Cap price

126.08

Initial strike price

83.53

1.625% Convertible senior notes due in 2019 [Member] | Private placement [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Convertible senior notes aggregate principal amount

500,000,000

Proceeds from convertible debt

488,300,000

1.625% Convertible senior notes due in 2019 [Member] | Minimum [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Derivative, Expiry date

4-Sep-19

1.625% Convertible senior notes due in 2019 [Member] | Maximum [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Derivative, Expiry date

29-Oct-19

Solar Bond Program [Member] | Space Exploration Technologies Corporation [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Debt instrument maturity date

30-Mar-16

Interest Rate

2.00%

Proceeds from issuance of solar bonds issued to related parties

90,000,000

Term loan assumed from Silevo acquisition [Member] | February 4, 2014 agreement [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Maximum amount to be borrowed under financing agreement

250,000,000

220,000,000

100,000,000

Debt Instrument, interest rate terms

Companyâ€™s option, 3.25% plus the highest of (i) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, (ii) Bank of Americaâ€™s published â€œprime rateâ€

Term loan assumed from Silevo acquisition [Member] | Silevo, Inc [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Interest Rate

7.80%

Acquired term loan

9,100,000

Term loan due in September 2015 [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Maximum amount to be borrowed under financing agreement

79,000,000

Debt Instrument, interest rate terms

Companyâ€™s option, at an annual rate of (a) 3.50% plus LIBOR or (b) 3.50% plus the highest of (i) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, (ii) Bank of Americaâ€™s published â€œprime rateâ€ or (iii) LIBOR plus 1.00%.

Term loan due in December 2016 [Member] | May 23, 2014 agreement [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Maximum amount to be borrowed under financing agreement

125,000,000

Debt Instrument, interest rate terms

Companyâ€™s option, plus the highest of (i) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, (ii) Bank of Americaâ€™s published â€œprime rateâ€ or (iii) LIBOR plus 1.00%.

Term loan due in December 2016 [Member] | Minimum [Member] | May 23, 2014 agreement [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Interest Rate

3.00%

Term loan due in December 2016 [Member] | Maximum [Member] | May 23, 2014 agreement [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Interest Rate

4.00%

Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2013-1 [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Convertible senior notes aggregate principal amount

54,400,000

Value Solar assets

142,500,000

Debt discount percentage

0.05%

Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-1 [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Convertible senior notes aggregate principal amount

133,200,000

70,200,000

Debt discount percentage

0.01%

Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-2 [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Convertible senior notes aggregate principal amount

283,100,000

Debt discount percentage

0.01%

LIBOR [Member] | Term loan assumed from Silevo acquisition [Member] | February 4, 2014 agreement [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Basis interest rate

3.25%

LIBOR [Member] | Term loan due in September 2015 [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Basis interest rate

3.50%

Class A [Member] | Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-2 [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Convertible senior notes aggregate principal amount

160,000,000

Class B [Member] | Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-2 [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Convertible senior notes aggregate principal amount

41,500,000

Revolving credit facility [Member] | MyPower revolving credit facility [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Maximum amount to be borrowed under financing agreement

200,000,000

Credit facility interest rate terms

Company entered into a $200.0 million revolving credit agreement with a syndicate of banks to obtain funding for the MyPower customer loan program. The MyPower revolving credit facility provides up to $160.0 million of Class A notes and up to $40.0 million of Class B notes. The Class A notes bear interest at an annual rate of 2.50% plus (a) the commercial paper rate or (b) 1.50% plus adjusted LIBOR.

Basis interest rate

0.50%

Revolving credit facility [Member] | LIBOR [Member] | MyPower revolving credit facility [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Basis interest rate

1.50%

Revolving credit facility [Member] | Class A [Member] | MyPower revolving credit facility [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Convertible senior notes aggregate principal amount

160,000,000

Revolving credit facility [Member] | Class B [Member] | MyPower revolving credit facility [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Convertible senior notes aggregate principal amount

40,000,000

Syndicated revolving bank agreement [Member] | Revolving credit facility [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Maximum amount to be borrowed under financing agreement

$200,000,000

$75,000,000

Credit facility interest rate terms

The Company entered into a revolving credit agreement with a syndicate of banks to obtain funding for working capital, letters of credit and funding for general corporate needs. The committed amount under the revolving credit facility was increased from $75.0 million to $200.0 million in 2013. Borrowed funds bear interest, at the Companyâ€™s option, at an annual rate of (a) 3.25% plus LIBOR or (b) 2.25% plus the highest of (i) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, (ii) Bank of Americaâ€™s published â€œprime rateâ€ or (iii) LIBOR plus 1.00%

Percentage of fee for undrawn commitments

0.38%

Borrowed funds, base interest rate

2.25%

Syndicated revolving bank agreement [Member] | Revolving credit facility [Member] | LIBOR [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Basis interest rate

3.25%

Syndicated revolving bank agreement [Member] | Revolving credit facility [Member] | Federal Funds Rate [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Basis interest rate

0.50%

Syndicated revolving bank agreement [Member] | Revolving credit facility [Member] | Federal Funds Rate [Member] | Term loan due in December 2016 [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Basis interest rate

0.50%

Syndicated revolving bank agreement [Member] | Revolving credit facility [Member] | LIBOR Option 2 [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Basis interest rate

1.00%

VIE_Arrangements_Summary_of_Nu

VIE Arrangements - Summary of Number of Current VIE Funds by Classification of Investor, the Carrying Value, Total Investor Contributions Received and Undrawn Investor Contributions (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
	Fund	Dec. 31, 2014
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Carrying Value of Solar Energy System	$3,073,600	$2,796,796
VIEs [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Number Of Funds	26
Total Investor Contributions Received	1,603,463
Undrawn Investor Contributions	398,330
Carrying Value of Solar Energy System	1,799,266	1,581,459
Financial Institutions [Member] \| VIEs [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Number Of Funds	17
Total Investor Contributions Received	1,071,405
Undrawn Investor Contributions	96,346
Carrying Value of Solar Energy System	1,241,970
Corporations [Member] \| VIEs [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Number Of Funds	6
Total Investor Contributions Received	281,165
Undrawn Investor Contributions	283,234
Carrying Value of Solar Energy System	302,004
Utilities [Member] \| VIEs [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Number Of Funds	2
Total Investor Contributions Received	247,286
Undrawn Investor Contributions	18,750
Carrying Value of Solar Energy System	251,992
Various Other Investors [Member] \| VIEs [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Number Of Funds	1
Total Investor Contributions Received	3,607
Carrying Value of Solar Energy System	$3,300

VIE_Arrangements_Additional_In

VIE Arrangements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
VIE Arrangements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015
VIEs [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Fund assets pledged as collateral	0
Silevo's Joint Venture in China [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership interest acquired	65.70%
Term of agreement	1 year
Automatic renewal period	1 year
Right of acquisition period	5 years

VIE_Arrangements_Carrying_Valu

VIE Arrangements - Carrying Values of Assets and Liabilities of Subsidiary in Consolidated Balance Sheets (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Current assets:
Restricted cash	$10,395		$20,875
Accounts receivable - net	25,591		22,708
Rebates receivable	27,279		30,021
Inventories	227,676		217,223
Total current assets	944,701		1,002,399
Solar energy systems, leased and to be leased - net	3,073,600		2,796,796
Other assets	129,084		97,854
Property, plant and equipment - net	163,048		101,914
Current liabilities:
Distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests	9,065		8,552
Current portion of deferred U.S. Treasury grant income	15,330		15,330
Accounts payable	216,807		237,809
Accrued and other current liabilities	185,119		152,408
Customer deposits	7,815		10,560
Current portion of deferred revenue	90,009		86,238
Current portion of long-term debt	11,712		11,781
Total current liabilities	671,133		567,091
Deferred revenue, net of current portion	662,776		557,408
Deferred U.S. Treasury grant income, net of current portion	393,637		397,486
Other liabilities and deferred credits	281,606		244,474
Total liabilities	3,658,484	[1]	3,243,839	[1]
VIEs [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	27,170		26,419
Restricted cash	487		106
Accounts receivable - net	9,891		6,769
Rebates receivable	21,686		25,397
Inventories	1,112		614
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	556		615
Total current assets	59,790		59,306
Restricted cash	254		300
Solar energy systems, leased and to be leased - net	1,799,266		1,581,459
Other assets	4,715		3,780
Property, plant and equipment - net	24,437		24,286
Total assets	1,864,025		1,644,845
Current liabilities:
Distributions payable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests	9,065		8,552
Current portion of deferred U.S. Treasury grant income	6,501		6,502
Accounts payable	2,896		2,748
Accrued and other current liabilities	846		336
Customer deposits	4,771		6,405
Current portion of deferred revenue	18,541		16,746
Current portion of long-term debt	9,160		9,134
Total current liabilities	39,724		38,541
Deferred revenue, net of current portion	268,243		256,200
Deferred U.S. Treasury grant income, net of current portion	168,912		170,548
Other liabilities and deferred credits	15,088		10,825
Total liabilities	491,967		476,114
Silevo's Joint Venture in China [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	2,058		1,401
Inventories	1,112		614
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	600		1,224
Total current assets	3,770		3,239
Property, plant and equipment - net	24,437		24,286
Total assets	28,207		27,525
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	2,896		2,748
Accrued and other current liabilities	611		633
Current portion of long-term debt	9,160		9,134
Total current liabilities	12,667		12,515
Total liabilities	$12,667		$12,515

[1]	SolarCity Corporationâ€™s, or the Companyâ€™s, consolidated assets as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014 include $1,892,232 and $1,672,370, respectively, being assets of variable interest entities, or VIEs, that can only be used to settle obligations of the VIEs. These assets include solar energy systems, leased and to be leased-net, of $1,799,266 and $1,581,459 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; property, plant and equipment-net, of $24,437 and $24,286 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; cash and cash equivalents of $29,228 and $27,820 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; inventory, of $1,112 and $614 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; restricted cash, current, of $487 and $106 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; accounts receivable, net, of $9,891 and $6,769 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; prepaid expenses and other current assets of $1,156 and $1,839 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; rebates receivable of $21,686 and $25,397 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; restricted cash, noncurrent, of $254 and $300 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; and other assets of $4,715 and $3,780 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively. The Companyâ€™s consolidated liabilities as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014 include $27,349 and $27,808, respectively, being liabilities of VIEs whose creditors have no recourse to the Company. These liabilities include distributions payable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries and redeemable noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries of $9,065 and $8,552 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; accounts payable of $2,896 and $2,748 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; customer deposits of $4,771 and $6,405 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; accrued liabilities and other payables of $1,457 and $969 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively; and current portion of long-term debt of $9,160 and $9,134 as of March 31, 2015 and DecemberÂ 31, 2014, respectively.

Financing_Obligations_Addition

Financing Obligations - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Property Subject To Or Available For Operating Lease [Line Items]
Solar energy systems, leased and to be leased - net	$3,073,600	$2,796,796
Solar energy systems [Member]
Property Subject To Or Available For Operating Lease [Line Items]
Solar energy systems, leased and to be leased - net	$12,200

Redeemable_Noncontrolling_Inte2

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests in Subsidiaries - Activity of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests in Subsidiaries (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning balance	$1,155,584
Contributions from redeemable noncontrolling interests	68,280
Net loss	-146,937	-75,218
Distributions to redeemable noncontrolling interests	-8,442
Ending balance	1,135,989
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Beginning balance	186,788
Contributions from redeemable noncontrolling interests	108,038
Net loss	-39,406
Distributions to redeemable noncontrolling interests	-8,928
Ending balance	$246,492

Equity_Schedule_of_Changes_in_

Equity - Schedule of Changes in Total Stockholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interests (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
Schedule Of Capitalization Equity [Line Items]
Beginning balance	$1,155,584
Contributions from redeemable noncontrolling interests	68,280
Stock-based compensation expense	24,453
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options for cash	3,645
Net loss	-107,531
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	-8,442
Ending balance	1,135,989
Total Stockholders' Equity [Member]
Schedule Of Capitalization Equity [Line Items]
Beginning balance	745,642
Stock-based compensation expense	24,453
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options for cash	3,645
Net loss	-21,525
Ending balance	752,215
Noncontrolling Interests in Subsidiaries [Member]
Schedule Of Capitalization Equity [Line Items]
Beginning balance	409,942
Contributions from redeemable noncontrolling interests	68,280
Net loss	-86,006
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	-8,442
Ending balance	$383,774

Equity_Award_Plans_Additional_

Equity Award Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2012
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted stock options at fair market value on grant date	not less than 100%
Holding percent of stockholder	10.00%
Exercisable options granted	10 years
Percentage of non-vested stock options outstanding, before vested and exercisable	27.00%
Grant date fair market value of options that vested	$23,800,000	$7,500,000
Total unrecognized stock-based compensation , net of estimated forfeitures	176,900,000		242,900,000
Weighted-average period	2 years 9 months 26 days		2 years 9 months 4 days
Stock-based compensation expense	24,500,000	18,100,000
Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total unrecognized stock-based compensation , net of estimated forfeitures	64,500,000		55,200,000
Weighted-average period	3 years 5 months 12 days		3 years 3 months 18 days
Grant date fair value of RSUs released	$1,600,000	$100,000
Minimum [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Exercisable options granted	4 years
10% or greater stockholder [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Exercise price as percentage of fair value per share on the grant date	110.00%
Initial appointment [Member] \| Nonemployee director [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock option grant to purchase shares of common stock				30,000,000
Additional stock options [Member] \| Nonemployee director [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock option grant to purchase shares of common stock				15,000,000
Annual cash retainer [Member] \| Nonemployee director [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock option grant to purchase shares of common stock				15,000,000

Equity_Award_Plans_Summary_of_

Equity Award Plans - Summary of Stock Option Activity (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Roll Forward
Stock Options, Outstanding, Balance	13,950
Stock Options, Granted	244
Stock Options, Exercised	-310
Stock Options, Canceled	-301
Stock Options, Outstanding, Balance	13,583	13,950
Stock Options, Vested and exercisable	7,036
Stock Options, Vested and expected to vest	12,574
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Outstanding, Balance	$32.89
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Granted	$51.16
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Exercised	$11.75
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Canceled	$58.78
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Outstanding, Balance	$33.12	$32.89
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Options vested and exercisable	$15.80
Weighted-Average Exercise Price, Options vested and expected to vest	$31.36
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term, Outstanding	7 years 5 months 27 days	7 years 7 months 21 days
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term, Options vested and exercisable	6 years 3 months 18 days
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term, Options vested and expected to vest	7 years 4 months 13 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Outstanding, Balance	$342,293
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Exercised	11,601
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Outstanding, Balance	308,354	342,293
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options vested and exercisable	261,547
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options vested and expected to vest	$303,893

Equity_Award_Plans_Summary_of_1

Equity Award Plans - Summary of Stock Option Activity (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Roll Forward
Weighted-average fair value, Granted	$34.48

Equity_Award_Plans_Summary_of_2

Equity Award Plans - Summary of Fair Value of Stock Options Granted Using Weighted-Average Assumptions (Detail)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]
Dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%
Annual risk-free rate of return	1.56%	2.01%
Expected volatility	76.90%	84.86%
Expected term (years)	6 years 1 month 13 days	6 years 2 months 12 days

Equity_Award_Plans_Summary_of_3

Equity Award Plans - Summary of RSU Activity (Detail) (Restricted Stock Units [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Schedule Of Restricted Stock Activity [Line Items]
Restricted Stock Units, Outstanding, Beginning balance	1,029
Restricted Stock Units, Granted	696
Restricted Stock Units, Released	-25
Restricted Stock Units, Cancelled	-60
Restricted Stock Units, Outstanding, Ending balance	1,640
Restricted Stock Units, Expected to vest - March 31, 2015	1,295
Weighted-Average Fair Value, Outstanding, Beginning balance	$61.16
Weighted-Average Fair Value, Granted	$53.76
Weighted-Average Fair Value, Released	$65.87
Weighted-Average Fair Value, Cancelled	$57.48
Weighted-Average Fair Value, Outstanding, Ending balance	$58.09
Weighted-Average Fair Value, Expected to vest - March 31,2015	$58.16

Equity_Award_Plans_Summary_of_4

Equity Award Plans - Summary of Stock-Based Compensation Expense Capitalized (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Inventories [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation, amounts capitalized	$250	$108
Other Assets [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation, amounts capitalized	642
Property, Plant and Equipment - Net [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation, amounts capitalized	606	1,480
Solar energy systems [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation, amounts capitalized	$4,638	$3,642

Equity_Award_Plans_Summary_of_5

Equity Award Plans - Summary of Stock-Based Compensation Expense Recognized (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$24,500	$18,100
Total cost of revenue [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	320	826
Sales and marketing [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	3,765	3,040
General and administrative [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	10,143	8,475
Research and development [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$4,133	$506

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Estimated consolidated effective income tax rates	0.43%	-0.29%
Other non-current asset [Member]
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Net prepaid tax expense	3.7		$3.70
Solar energy systems leased and to be leased [Member]
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives of solar energy systems	30 years

Related_Party_Transactions_Com

Related Party Transactions - Components of Related Party Transactions (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Expenditures:
Purchases of inventories or equipment from related parties	$797	$960
Fees paid or payable to related parties (included in sales and marketing expense)		64
Interest paid or payable to related parties (included in interest expense â€” net)	$8

Related_Party_Transactions_Sum

Related Party Transactions - Summary of Related Party Balances (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Due from related parties (included in accounts receivable)	$30	$30
Due to related parties (included in accounts payable)	693	300
Due to related parties (included in solar bonds)	90,530	530
Due to related parties (included in accrued and other current liabilities)	$7	$3

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Nov. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
			sqft
			acre
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment - net	$163,048,000	$163,048,000		$101,914,000
Letters of credit outstanding	19,300,000	19,300,000
Letters of credit, fee percentage	3.38%
Law suit filing date		3/28/14
Loss contingency lawsuit filing amended complaint date		19-Jun-15
Minimum [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Initial direct costs related to solar energy systems leased to customers		10 years
Build-to-suit lease arrangement \| Construction in Progress [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment - net	52,900,000	52,900,000		26,500,000
Build-to-suit lease arrangement \| Research Foundation
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Area of manufacturing facility			1,000,000
Number of acres producing solar panels			88.24
Construction cost committed			350,000,000
Acquisition of manufacturing equipment			400,000,000
Initial direct costs related to solar energy systems leased to customers			10 years
Operating Lease, Option to Renew Amount per Year			2
Contractual Obligation			41,200,000
Lease Arrangement, Amount Required to Spend or Incur			$5,000,000,000
Build-to-suit lease arrangement \| Research Foundation \| Minimum [Member]
Long Term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Capacity to Produce Solar Panels			1

Basic_and_Diluted_Net_Loss_Per2

Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Share - Computation of Company's Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Share (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net loss attributable to stockholders	($21,525)	($24,063)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders, basic	-21,525	-24,063
Net loss attributable to common stockholders, diluted	($21,525)	($24,063)
Weighted-average shares used to compute net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic	96,680,069	91,412,126
Weighted-average shares used to compute net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, diluted	96,680,069	91,412,126
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic	($0.22)	($0.26)
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, diluted	($0.22)	($0.26)

Basic_and_Diluted_Net_Loss_Per3

Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Share - Schedule of Weighted-Average Outstanding Shares of Common Stock Equivalents Excluded from Computation of Diluted Net Loss Per Share (Detail)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Common stock options [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Common stock equivalents excluded from the computation of diluted net income (loss) per share	13,815,595	14,393,036
Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Common stock equivalents excluded from the computation of diluted net income (loss) per share	1,322,010	93,875
Convertible debt securities [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Common stock equivalents excluded from the computation of diluted net income (loss) per share	10,505,947	3,729,795

Subsequent_Events_Additional_I

Subsequent Events - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	2 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Apr. 13, 2015	30-May-15	4-May-15	Apr. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
	Mar. 31, 2015	Apr. 13, 2015	Fund	4-May-15	Fund	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Syndicated revolving bank agreement [Member] \| Revolving credit facility [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Maximum amount to be borrowed under revolving credit facility						$200,000,000	$75,000,000
Syndicated revolving bank agreement [Member] \| Revolving credit facility [Member] \| Federal Funds Rate [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Basis interest rate	0.50%
Syndicated revolving bank agreement [Member] \| Revolving credit facility [Member] \| LIBOR [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Basis interest rate	3.25%
Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of new financing funds			2
Aggregate funds available for financing					205,000,000
Increase in total fund available for financing in aggregate			80,600,000
Paid-down of principal revolving credit facility, amount		45,000,000
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Revolving credit facility [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Maximum amount to be borrowed under revolving credit facility				500,000,000
Amount drawn on revolving credit facility				$113,100,000
Interest Rate				2.75%
Debt Instrument, interest rate terms				Companyâ€™s option, LIBOR, the commercial paper rate or the highest of (i) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, (ii) Bank of Americaâ€™s published â€œprime rateâ€ or (iii) LIBOR plus 1.00%.
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Non-recourse debt [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of new financing funds					3
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Syndicated revolving bank agreement [Member] \| Revolving credit facility [Member] \| Federal Funds Rate [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Basis interest rate				0.50%
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Syndicated revolving bank agreement [Member] \| Revolving credit facility [Member] \| LIBOR [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Basis interest rate				1.00%