Sunpower (SPWRQ) 10-Q 31 Oct 13 2013 Q3 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Oct. 25, 2013	Jul. 01, 2012
Entity Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'	'
Document Period End Date	29-Sep-13	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'SUNPOWER CORP	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000867773	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-29	'	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'No	'	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Accelerated Filer	'	'
Entity Public Float	'	'	$191.50
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q3	'	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	121,395,743	'

Condensed_Consolidated_Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Sep. 29, 2013		Dec. 30, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'		'
Cash and cash equivalents	$743,575		$457,487
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, current portion	14,600		15,568
Accounts receivable, net	377,824		398,150
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	42,563		36,395
Inventories	288,049		291,386
Advances to suppliers, current portion	75,680		50,282
Project assets - plants and land, current portion	98,005		75,911
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	453,595	[1]	613,053	[1]
Total current assets	2,093,891		1,938,232
Restricted cash and cash equivalents, net of current portion	17,420		31,396
Restricted long-term marketable securities	9,179		10,885
Property, plant and equipment, net	851,344	[2]	774,909	[2]
Project assets - plants and land, net of current portion	3,559		7,596
Other intangible assets, net	514		744
Advances to suppliers, net of current portion	289,460		301,123
Other long-term assets	493,725	[1]	276,063	[1]
Total assets	3,759,092		3,340,948
Current liabilities:	'		'
Accounts payable	483,059	[1]	414,335	[1]
Accrued liabilities	256,454		247,372
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	253,329		225,550
Short-term debt	76,845		14,700
Convertible debt, current portion	230,000		0
Customer advances, current portion	44,977	[1]	59,648	[1]
Total current liabilities	1,344,664		961,605
Long-term debt	93,154		375,661
Convertible debt, net of current portion	521,372	[1]	438,629	[1]
Customer advances, net of current portion	170,798	[1]	236,082	[1]
Other long-term liabilities	520,260		335,619
Total liabilities	2,650,248		2,347,596
Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)	'		'
Equity:	'		'
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding as of both September 29, 2013 and December 31, 2012	0		0
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 367,500,000 shares authorized; 126,730,119 shares issued, and 121,390,170 outstanding as of September 29, 2013; 123,315,990 shares issued, and 119,234,280 shares outstanding as of December 30, 2012	121		119
Additional paid-in capital	1,964,369		1,931,947
Accumulated deficit	-828,830		-902,085
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-4,948		-2,521
Treasury stock, at cost; 5,339,949 shares of common stock as of September 29, 2013; 4,081,710 shares of common stock as of December 30, 2012	-51,692		-34,108
Total stockholders' equity	1,079,020		993,352
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	29,824		0
Total equity	1,108,844		993,352
Total liabilities and equity	$3,759,092		$3,340,948
[1]	The Company has related party balances in connection with transactions made with Total and its affiliates as well as unconsolidated entities in which the Company has a direct equity investment. These related party balances are recorded within the "Prepaid expenses and other current assets," "Other long-term assets," "Accounts payable," "Customer advances, current portion," "Convertible debt, net of current portion," and "Customer advances, net of current portion" financial statement line items in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (see Note 2, Note 4, Note 5, Note 7, and Note 8).
[2]	Property, plant and equipment, net are based on the physical location of the assets.

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 29, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012
Preferred Stock, Par Value Per Share	$0.00	$0.00
Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred Stock, Shares Issued	0	0
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding	0	0
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$0.00	$0.00
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	367,500,000	367,500,000
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	126,730,119	123,315,990
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	121,390,170	119,234,280
Treasury Stock, Shares	5,339,949	4,081,710

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Revenue	$657,120	$648,948	$1,869,069	$1,738,976
Cost of revenue	463,890	568,175	1,508,665	1,539,455
Gross margin	193,230	80,773	360,404	199,521
Operating expenses:	'	'	'	'
Research and development	14,903	14,956	41,108	45,786
Sales, general and administrative	63,229	69,714	195,356	208,388
Restructuring charges	1,114	10,544	1,705	61,189
Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment	0	59,581	0	59,581
Total operating expenses	79,246	154,795	238,169	374,944
Operating income (loss)	113,984	-74,022	122,235	-175,423
Other income (expense), net:	'	'	'	'
Interest income	258	94	839	762
Interest Expense	-28,861	-25,834	-80,765	-63,935
Gain (Loss) on Share Lending Arrangement	0	50,645	0	50,645	[1]
Other, net	-4,159	594	-11,972	-4,984
Other income (expense), net	-32,762	25,499	-91,898	-17,512
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated investees	81,222	-48,523	30,337	-192,935
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	4,575	-593	-2,920	-12,542
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated investees	1,585	578	2,261	-1,772	[1]
Net income (loss)	87,382	-48,538	29,678	-207,249	[1]
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	21,004	0	43,577	0
Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders	$108,386	($48,538)	$73,255	($207,249)
Net income (loss) per share of common stock:	'	'	'	'
Basic	$0.89	($0.41)	$0.61	($1.78)
Diluted	$0.73	($0.41)	$0.55	($1.78)
Weighted-average shares:	'	'	'	'
Basic	121,314	118,952	120,604	116,408
Diluted	153,876	118,952	134,859	116,408
[1]	As adjusted to conform to the current period presentation for solar power systems leased and to be leased (see Note 1).

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme1

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Components of comprehensive income (loss)	'	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	$87,382	($48,538)	$29,678	($207,249)	[1]
Components of comprehensive income (loss):	'	'	'	'
Translation adjustment	1,923	148	-2,003	-1,802
Net unrealized loss on derivatives	-2,005	-2,611	-524	-10,738
Unrealized gain on investments	7	0	0	0
Income taxes	379	490	100	2,016
Net change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	304	-1,973	-2,427	-10,524
Comprehensive income (loss)	87,686	-50,511	27,251	-217,773
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	21,004	0	43,577	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to stockholders	$108,690	($50,511)	$70,828	($217,773)
[1]	As adjusted to conform to the current period presentation for solar power systems leased and to be leased (see Note 1).

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme2

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $)	Total	Capital Units [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Stockholders' Equity, Total [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Total [Member]
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	USD ($)		USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)
Balances, beginning of the year at Dec. 30, 2012	$993,352	'	$119	$1,931,947	($34,108)	($2,521)	($902,085)	$993,352	$0	$993,352
Shares issued, beginning of the year at Dec. 30, 2012	'	119,234	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders	73,255	'	'	'	'	'	73,255	73,255	'	'
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	-43,577	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-43,577	'
Net income (loss)	29,678	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	29,678
Comprehensive income	70,828	'	'	'	'	-2,427	'	-2,427	'	-2,427
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of options, values	'	'	'	97	'	'	'	97	'	97
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of options, shares	'	41	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Issuance of restricted stock to employees, net of cancellations, values	'	'	2	-2	'	'	'	'	'	'
Issuance of restricted stock to employees, net of cancellations, shares	'	3,373	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation expense	'	'	'	31,599	'	'	'	31,599	'	31,599
Purchases of treasury stock, value	'	'	'	'	-17,584	'	'	-17,584	'	-17,584
Tax benefit from convertible debt interest deduction	'	'	'	728	'	'	'	728	'	728
Purchases of treasury stock, shares	'	-1,258	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	-73,401	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	73,401	73,401
Balances, end of the year at Sep. 29, 2013	$1,108,844	'	$121	$1,964,369	($51,692)	($4,948)	($828,830)	$1,079,020	$29,824	$1,108,844
Shares issued, end of the year at Sep. 29, 2013	'	121,390	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'

Condensed_Consolidated_Stateme3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:	'	'
Net income (loss)	$29,678	($207,249)	[1]
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:	'	'
Stock-based compensation	31,103	33,179	[1]
Depreciation	72,893	82,747	[1]
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property	0	56,399	[1]
Amortization of other intangible assets	231	8,099	[1]
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0	46,734	[1]
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	0	12,847	[1]
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Investments	-51	0	[1]
Gain on mark-to-market derivatives	30	-4	[1]
Other Noncash Income (Expense)	36,382	29,336	[1]
Amortization of debt issuance costs	3,762	2,899	[1]
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated investees	-2,261	1,772	[1]
Non-cash gain on equity interest in unconsolidated investee	-529	0	[1]
Third-party inventories write-down	0	8,869	[1]
Gain (Loss) on Share Lending Arrangement	0	-50,645	[1]
Gain (Loss) on Contract Termination	-51,988	0	[1]
Deferred income taxes and other tax liabilities	2,317	110	[1]
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of aquisition:	'	'
Accounts receivable	-46,391	124,865	[1]
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	-6,168	-10,709	[1]
Inventories	-38,543	-50,076	[1]
Project assets	-42,113	-101,917	[1]
Prepaid expenses and other assets	48,355	-35,401	[1]
Advances to suppliers	-13,735	-29,993	[1]
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	106,769	-43,008	[1]
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	27,779	-31,203	[1]
Customer advances	-27,967	40,048	[1]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	129,553	-112,301	[1]
Cash flows from investing activities:	'	'
Decrease in restricted cash and cash equivalents	14,944	54,341	[1]
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	-25,460	-79,033	[1]
Cash paid for solar power systems, leased and to be leased	-83,619	-100,655	[1]
Payments to Acquire Marketable Securities	-99,928	-1,436	[1]
Proceeds from Sale and Maturity of Marketable Securities	100,947	'
Proceeds from sale of equipment to third-party	645	419	[1]
Cash received for sale of investment in unconsolidated investees	0	17,403	[1]
Payments to Acquire Other Investments	-1,411	-10,000	[1]
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	-93,882	-118,961	[1]
Cash flows from financing activities:	'	'
Proceeds from Convertible Debt	296,283	0	[1]
Proceeds from Bank Debt	0	125,000	[1]
Proceeds from issuance of project loans, net of issuance costs	68,225	27,617	[1]
Proceeds from Sale of Claim in Connection With Share Lending Arrangement	'	50,645	[1]
Proceeds from residential lease financing	83,365	26,809	[1]
Proceeds from sale-leaseback financing	40,757	0	[1]
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	73,401	0	[1]
Repayment of bank loans, project loans and other debt	-290,098	-126,427	[1]
Sale Leaseback Transaction, Other Payments Required	-5,124	0	[1]
Cash paid for repurchase of convertible debt	0	-198,608	[1]
Proceeds from private offering of common stock, net of issuance costs	0	163,616	[1]
Cash distributions to Parent in connection with the transfer of entities under common control	0	-178,290	[1]
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	98	51	[1]
Purchases of stock for tax withholding obligations on vested restricted stock	-17,584	-5,430	[1]
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	249,323	-115,017	[1]
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	1,094	-2,213	[1]
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	286,088	-348,492	[1]
Cash and Cash Equivalents at beginning of period	457,487	725,618	[1]
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	743,575	377,126	[1]
Non-cash transactions:	'	'
Assignment of residential lease receivables to a third party financial institution	67,400	10,259	[1]
Property, plant and equipment acquisitions funded by liabilities	5,628	13,243	[1]
Costs of solar power systems, leased and to be leased, sourced from existing inventory	43,341	80,068	[1]
Costs of solar power systems, leased and to be leased, funded by liabilities	2,315	6,712	[1]
Costs of solar power systems under sale-leaseback financing arrangements, sourced by project assets	24,399	0	[1]
Non-cash interest expense capitalized and added to the cost of qualified assets	400	1,161	[1]
Issuance of warrants in connection with the Liquidity Support Agreement	$0	$50,327	[1]
[1]	As adjusted to conform to the current period presentation for solar power systems leased and to be leased (see Note 1).

The_Company_and_Summary_of_Sig

The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	'
	THE COMPANY AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
	The Company
	SunPower Corporation (together with its subsidiaries, the "Company" or "SunPower") is a vertically integrated solar products and solutions company that designs, manufactures and delivers high-performance solar systems worldwide, serving as a one-stop shop for residential, commercial, and utility-scale power plant customers.
	The Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, as the chief operating decision maker ("CODM"), has organized the Company, manages resource allocations, and measures performance of the Company's activities among three regional segments: (i) the Americas Segment, (ii) the EMEA Segment, and (iii) the APAC Segment. The Americas Segment includes both North and South America. The EMEA Segment includes European countries, as well as the Middle East and Africa. The APAC segment includes all Asia-Pacific countries.
	On June 21, 2011, the Company became a majority owned subsidiary of Total Energies Nouvelles Activités USA, SAS, formerly known as Total Gas & Power USA, SAS ("Total"), a subsidiary of Total S.A. ("Total S.A."), through a tender offer and Total's purchase of 60% of the outstanding former class A common stock and former class B common stock of the Company as of June 13, 2011. On January 31, 2012, Total purchased an additional 18.6 million shares of the Company's common stock in a private placement, thereby increasing Total's ownership to approximately 66% of the Company's outstanding common stock as of that date (see Note 2).
	Basis of Presentation and Preparation
	Principles of Consolidation
	The condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("United States" or "U.S.") and include the accounts of the Company, all of its subsidiaries and special purpose entities, as appropriate under consolidation accounting guidelines. Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The assets of the special purpose entities that the Company sets up related to project financing for customers are not designed to be available to service the general liabilities and obligations of the Company in certain circumstances.
	Reclassifications
	Certain prior period balances have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation in the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. Such reclassifications had no effect on previously reported results of operations or retained earnings. As reflected in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2012 ("2012 Form 10-K"), in connection with the growth of its residential lease program, during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 the Company began to separately classify both the cost of the leased assets and related investing cash flows based upon the nature of the lease entered into. The Company has reclassified prior period interim balances to conform to the current period presentation, which resulted in an increase in operating cash flows of $100.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.
	Fiscal Years
	The Company has a 52-to-53-week fiscal year that ends on the Sunday closest to December 31. Accordingly, every fifth or sixth year will be a 53-week fiscal year. Both fiscal 2013 and 2012 are 52-week fiscal years. The third quarter of fiscal 2013 ended on September 29, 2013, while the third quarter of fiscal 2012 ended on September 30, 2012. All quarters in fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2012 were 13-week quarters.
	Management Estimates
	The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant estimates in these condensed consolidated financial statements include percentage-of-completion for construction projects; allowances for doubtful accounts receivable and sales returns; inventory and project asset write-downs; stock-based compensation; estimates for future cash flows and economic useful lives of property, plant and equipment and other long-term assets; the fair value and residual value of leased solar power systems; fair value of financial instruments; valuation of certain accrued liabilities including accrued warranty, restructuring, and termination of supply contracts reserves; valuation of debt without the conversion feature; and income taxes and tax valuation allowances. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.
	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	Revenue Recognition
	Residential Leases
	The Company offers a solar lease program, in partnership with third-party financial institutions, which allows its residential customers to obtain SunPower systems under lease agreements for terms of up to 20 years. Leases are classified as either operating or sales-type leases in accordance with the relevant accounting guidelines.
	For those systems classified as sales-type leases, the net present value of the minimum lease payments, net of executory costs, is recognized as revenue when the lease is placed in service. This net present value as well as the net present value of the residual value of the lease at termination are recorded as receivables in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The difference between the initial net amounts and the gross amounts are amortized to revenue over the lease term using the interest method. The residual values of our solar systems are determined at the inception of the lease applying an estimated system fair value at the end of the lease term.
	For those systems classified as operating leases, rental revenue is recognized, net of executory costs, on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.
	Noncontrolling Interests
	Noncontrolling interests represents the portion of net assets in consolidated subsidiaries that are not attributable, directly or indirectly, to the Company. Beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company has entered into facilities with third-party investors under which the investors are determined to hold noncontrolling interests in entities fully consolidated by the Company. The net assets of the shared entities are attributed to the controlling and noncontrolling interests based on the terms of the governing contractual arrangements. The Company further determined the hypothetical liquidation at book value method ("HLBV Method") to be the appropriate method for attributing net assets to the controlling and noncontrolling interests as this method most closely mirrors the economics of the governing contractual arrangements. Under the HLBV Method, the Company allocates recorded income (loss) to each investor based on the change, during the reporting period, of the amount of net assets each investor is entitled to under the governing contractual arrangements in a liquidation scenario.
	Other than as described above, there have been no significant changes in the Company's significant accounting policies during the nine months ended September 29, 2013, as compared with the significant accounting policies described in the 2012 Form 10-K.
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") amended its guidance related to the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits. The amended guidance specifies when an unrecognized tax benefit or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit should be presented as a liability versus an offset against a deferred tax asset when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or tax credit carryforward exists. The amendment will become effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2014. The Company does not expect that the requirement will have a material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements.
	In March 2013, the FASB and International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB") issued common disclosure requirements that are intended to enhance comparability between financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and those prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). This new guidance is applicable to companies that have financial instruments or derivatives that are either offset in the balance sheet (presented on a net basis) or subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar arrangement. The requirement does not change the existing offsetting eligibility criteria or the permitted balance sheet presentation for those instruments that meet the eligibility criteria. However, once this disclosure requirement becomes effective, companies will also be required to disclose information about financial instruments and derivatives instruments that have been offset and related arrangements and to provide both net (offset amounts) and gross information in the notes to the financial statements for relevant assets and liabilities that are offset. The disclosure requirement becomes effective retrospectively in the first quarter of the Company's fiscal year 2014. The Company does not expect that the requirement will have a material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements as it is disclosure only in nature.
	In March 2013, the FASB amended its guidance related to foreign currency matters requiring the release of the cumulative translation adjustment into net income when an entity ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or a group of assets within a foreign entity. The amendment will become effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2014. The Company does not expect that the requirement will have a material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements.
	In February 2013, the FASB amended its disclosure guidance related to the presentation of comprehensive income. The amendment requires reporting of the impact of significant reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss on the line items on the statement of operations, if a reclassification is required in its entirety in one reporting period. The amendment became effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2013 and did not have a significant impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements.
	Other than as described above, there has been no issued accounting guidance not yet adopted by the Company that it believes is material or potentially material to its condensed consolidated financial statements.

Transactions_with_Total_and_To

Transactions with Total and Total S.A.	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Transactions with Total [Abstract]	'
Transactions With Total and Total S.A. [Text Block]	'
	TRANSACTIONS WITH TOTAL AND TOTAL S.A.
	On April 28, 2011, the Company and Total entered into a Tender Offer Agreement (the "Tender Offer Agreement"), pursuant to which, on May 3, 2011, Total commenced a cash tender offer to acquire up to 60% of the Company's outstanding shares of former class A common stock and up to 60% of the Company's outstanding shares of former class B common stock (the "Tender Offer") at a price of $23.25 per share for each class. The offer expired on June 14, 2011 and Total accepted for payment on June 21, 2011 a total of 34,756,682 shares of the Company's former class A common stock and 25,220,000 shares of the Company's former class B common stock, representing 60% of each class of its outstanding common stock as of June 13, 2011, for a total cost of approximately $1.4 billion.
	On December 23, 2011, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with Total, under which it agreed to acquire 100% of the equity interest of Tenesol S.A. from Total for $165.4 million in cash. The Tenesol acquisition was consummated on January 31, 2012. Contemporaneously with the execution of the Tenesol Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company entered into a Private Placement Agreement with Total, under which Total agreed to purchase, and the Company agreed to issue and sell, 18.6 million shares of the Company's common stock for a purchase price of $8.80 per share, thereby increasing Total's ownership to approximately 66% of the Company's outstanding common stock as of that date. The sale was completed contemporaneously with the closing of the Tenesol acquisition.
	Credit Support Agreement
	In connection with the Tender Offer, the Company and Total S.A. entered into a Credit Support Agreement (the "Credit Support Agreement") under which Total S.A. agreed to enter into one or more guarantee agreements (each a "Guaranty") with banks providing letter of credit facilities to the Company in support of certain Company businesses and other permitted purposes. Total S.A. will guarantee the payment to the applicable issuing bank of the Company's obligation to reimburse a draw on a letter of credit and pay interest thereon in accordance with the letter of credit facility between such bank and the Company. The Credit Support Agreement became effective on June 28, 2011 (the "CSA Effective Date"). Under the Credit Support Agreement, at any time from the CSA Effective Date until the fifth anniversary of the CSA Effective Date, the Company may request that Total S.A. provide a Guaranty in support of the Company's payment obligations with respect to a letter of credit facility. Total S.A. is required to issue and enter into the Guaranty requested by the Company, subject to certain terms and conditions that may be waived by Total S.A., and subject to certain other conditions.
	In consideration for the commitments of Total S.A., under the Credit Support Agreement, the Company is required to pay Total S.A. a guarantee fee for each letter of credit that is the subject of a Guaranty and was outstanding for all or part of the preceding calendar quarter. The Company is also required to reimburse Total S.A. for payments made under any Guaranty and certain expenses of Total S.A., plus interest on both. The Company incurred guaranty fees under the Credit Support Agreement of $2.7 million and $6.2 million in the three and nine months ended September 29, 2013, respectively, and $1.7 million and $5.2 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively.
	The Company has agreed to undertake certain actions, including, but not limited to, ensuring that the payment obligations of the Company to Total S.A. rank at least equal in right of payment with all of the Company's other present and future indebtedness, other than certain permitted secured indebtedness. The Company has also agreed to refrain from taking certain actions, including refraining from making any equity distributions so long as it has any outstanding repayment obligation to Total S.A. resulting from a draw on a guaranteed letter of credit.
	The Credit Support Agreement will terminate following the fifth anniversary of the CSA Effective Date, after the later of the payment in full of all obligations thereunder and the termination or expiration of each Guaranty provided thereunder.
	Affiliation Agreement
	In connection with the Tender Offer, the Company and Total entered into an Affiliation Agreement that governs the relationship between Total and the Company following the close of the Tender Offer (the "Affiliation Agreement"). Until the expiration of a standstill period (the "Standstill Period"), and subject to certain exceptions, Total, Total S.A., any of their respective affiliates and certain other related parties (the "Total Group") may not effect, seek, or enter into discussions with any third-party regarding any transaction that would result in the Total Group beneficially owning shares of the Company in excess of certain thresholds, or request the Company or the Company's independent directors, officers or employees, to amend or waive any of the standstill restrictions applicable to the Total Group. The standstill provisions of the Affiliation Agreement do not apply to securities issued in connection with the Liquidity Support Agreement described below.
	The Affiliation Agreement imposes certain limitations on the Total Group's ability to seek to effect a tender offer or merger to acquire 100% of the outstanding voting power of the Company and imposes certain limitations on the Total Group's ability to transfer 40% or more of outstanding shares or voting power of the Company to a single person or group that is not a direct or indirect subsidiary of Total S.A. During the Standstill Period, no member of the Total Group may, among other things, solicit proxies or become a participant in an election contest relating to the election of directors to the Company's Board of Directors.
	The Affiliation Agreement provides Total with the right to maintain its percentage ownership in connection with any new securities issued by the Company, and Total may also purchase shares on the open market or in private transactions with disinterested stockholders, subject in each case to certain restrictions.
	In accordance with the terms of the Affiliation Agreement, on July 1, 2011, the Company's Board of Directors expanded the size of the Board of Directors to eleven members and elected six nominees from Total as directors, following which the Board of Directors was composed of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (who also serves as the chairman of the Company's Board of Directors), four existing non-Total designated members of the Company's Board of Directors, and six directors designated by Total. Directors designated by Total also serve on certain committees of the Company's Board of Directors. On the first anniversary of the consummation of the Tender Offer on June 21, 2012, the size of the Company's Board of Directors was reduced to nine members and one non-Total designated director and one director designated by Total resigned from the Company's Board of Directors. If the Total Group's ownership percentage of Company common stock declines, the number of members of the Company's Board of Directors that Total is entitled to nominate to the Company's Board of Directors will be further reduced as set forth in the Affiliation Agreement.
	The Affiliation Agreement also imposes certain restrictions with respect to the Company's and the Company's Board of Directors' ability to take certain actions, including specifying certain actions that require approval by the directors other than the directors appointed by Total and other actions that require stockholder approval by Total.
	Affiliation Agreement Guaranty
	Total S.A. has entered into a guaranty (the "Affiliation Agreement Guaranty") pursuant to which Total S.A. unconditionally guarantees the full and prompt payment of Total S.A.'s, Total's and each of Total S.A.'s direct and indirect subsidiaries' payment obligations under the Affiliation Agreement and the full and prompt performance of Total S.A.'s, Total's and each of Total S.A.'s direct and indirect subsidiaries' representations, warranties, covenants, duties, and agreements contained in the Affiliation Agreement.
	Research & Collaboration Agreement
	In connection with the Tender Offer, Total and the Company have entered into a Research & Collaboration Agreement (the "R&D Agreement") that establishes a framework under which the parties engage in long-term research and development collaboration ("R&D Collaboration"). The R&D Collaboration encompasses a number of different projects ("R&D Projects"), with a focus on advancing technology in the area of photovoltaics. The primary purpose of the R&D Collaboration is to: (i) maintain and expand the Company's technology position in the crystalline silicon domain; (ii) ensure the Company's industrial competitiveness; and (iii) guarantee a sustainable position for both the Company and Total to be best-in-class industry players.
	The R&D Agreement enables a joint committee (the "R&D Strategic Committee") to identify, plan and manage the R&D Collaboration. Due to the impracticability of anticipating and establishing all of the legal and business terms that are and will be applicable to the R&D Collaboration or to each R&D Project, the R&D Agreement sets forth broad principles applicable to the parties' potential R&D Collaboration, and the R&D Collaboration Committee establishes the particular terms governing each particular R&D Project consistent with the terms set forth in the R&D Agreement. In the three and nine months ended September 29, 2013, Total contributed $0.3 million and $1.3 million, respectively, to projects under the R&D Agreement. The Company records research and development expense net of contributions under collaborative arrangements.
	Registration Rights Agreement
	In connection with the Tender Offer, Total and the Company entered into a customary registration rights agreement (the "Registration Rights Agreement") related to Total's ownership of Company shares. The Registration Rights Agreement provides Total with shelf registration rights, subject to certain customary exceptions, and up to two demand registration rights in any 12-month period, also subject to certain customary exceptions. Total also has certain rights to participate in any registrations of securities initiated by the Company. The Company will generally pay all costs and expenses incurred by the Company and Total in connection with any shelf or demand registration (other than selling expenses incurred by Total). The Company and Total have also agreed to certain indemnification rights. The Registration Rights Agreement terminates on the first date on which: (i) the shares held by Total constitute less than 5% of the then-outstanding common stock; (ii) all securities held by Total may be immediately resold pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") during any 90-day period without any volume limitation or other restriction; or (iii) the Company ceases to be subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act.
	Stockholder Rights Plan
	On April 28, 2011, prior to the execution of the Tender Offer Agreement, the Company entered into an amendment (the "Rights Agreement Amendment") to the Rights Agreement, dated August 12, 2008, by and between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agreement"), in order to, among other things, render the rights therein inapplicable to each of: (i) the approval, execution or delivery of the Tender Offer Agreement; (ii) the commencement or consummation of the Tender Offer; (iii) the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by the Tender Offer Agreement and the related agreements; and (iv) the public or other announcement of any of the foregoing.
	On June 14, 2011, the Company entered into a second amendment to the Rights Agreement (the "Second Rights Agreement Amendment"), in order to, among other things, exempt Total, Total S.A. and certain of their affiliates and certain members of a group of which they may become members from the definition of "Acquiring Person" such that the rights issuable pursuant to the Rights Agreement will not become issuable in connection with the completion of the Tender Offer.
	By-laws Amendment
	On June 14, 2011, the Board of Directors approved the amendment of the Company's By-laws (the "By-laws"). The changes are required under the Affiliation Agreement. The amendments: (i) allow any member of the Total Group to call a meeting of stockholders for the sole purpose of considering and voting on a proposal to effect a Terra Merger (as defined in the Affiliation Agreement) or a Transferee Merger (as defined in the Affiliation Agreement); (ii) provide that the number of directors of the Board shall be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board at any regular or special meeting; (iii) require, prior to the termination of the Affiliation Agreement, a majority of independent directors' approval to amend the By-laws so long as Total, together with Total S.A.'s subsidiaries collectively own at least 30% of the voting securities of the Company as well as require, prior to the termination of the Affiliation Agreement, Total's written consent during the Terra Stockholder Approval Period (as defined in the Affiliation Agreement) to amend the By-laws; and (iv) make certain other conforming changes to the By-laws. In addition, in November 2011, the By-laws were amended to remove restrictions prohibiting stockholder consents in writing.
	Liquidity Support Agreement with Total S.A.
	The Company is party to an agreement with a customer to construct the California Valley Solar Ranch, a solar park. Part of the debt financing necessary for the customer to pay for the construction of this solar park is being provided by the Federal Financing Bank in reliance on a guarantee of repayment provided by the Department of Energy (the "DOE") under a loan guarantee program. On February 28, 2012, the Company entered into a Liquidity Support Agreement with Total S.A. and the DOE, and a series of related agreements with Total S.A. and Total, under which Total S.A. has agreed to provide the Company, or cause to be provided, additional liquidity under certain circumstances to a maximum amount of $600.0 million ("Liquidity Support Facility"). Total S.A. is required to provide liquidity support to the Company under the facility, and the Company is required to accept such liquidity support from Total S.A., if either the Company's actual or projected unrestricted cash, cash equivalents, and unused borrowing capacity are reduced below $100.0 million, or the Company fails to satisfy any financial covenant under its indebtedness. In either such event, subject to a $600.0 million aggregate limit, Total S.A. is required to provide the Company with sufficient liquidity support to increase the amount of its unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and unused borrowing capacity to above $100.0 million, and to restore compliance with its financial covenants. Total S.A.'s current guarantee of the Company's July 2013 revolving credit facility with Credit Agricole, as further described below, reduces the capacity available under the Liquidity Support Facility by $250.0 million. The Liquidity Support Facility is available until the completion of the solar park, expected to be completed in the beginning of fiscal 2014, and, under certain conditions, up to December 31, 2016, at which time all outstanding guarantees will expire (except for the Total S.A. guarantee of the Credit Agricole facility which will expire on or about January 31, 2014) and all outstanding debt under the facility will become due. The use of the Liquidity Support Facility is not limited to direct obligations related to the solar park, and is available for general corporate purposes, but the Company has agreed to conduct its operations, and use any proceeds from such facility, in ways that minimize the likelihood of Total S.A. being required to provide further support. In connection with the Liquidity Support Agreement, the Company also entered into a Compensation and Funding Agreement with Total S.A., and a Private Placement Agreement and a Revolving Credit and Convertible Loan Agreement with Total, which implement the terms of the Liquidity Support Agreement and Compensation Funding Agreement.
	Compensation and Funding Agreement
	In connection with the Liquidity Support Agreement, on February 28, 2012, the Company entered into a Compensation and Funding Agreement (the "Compensation and Funding Agreement") with Total S.A., pursuant to which, among other things, the Company and Total S.A. established the parameters for the terms of the Liquidity Support Facility and any liquidity injections that may be required to be provided by Total S.A. to the Company pursuant to the Liquidity Support Agreement. The Company has agreed in the Compensation and Funding Agreement to use commercially reasonable efforts to assist Total S.A. in the performance of its obligations under the Liquidity Support Agreement and to conduct, and to act in good faith in conducting, its affairs in a manner such that Total S.A.'s obligation under the Liquidity Support Agreement to provide liquidity injections will not be triggered or, if triggered, will be minimized. The Company has also agreed to use any cash provided under the facility in such a way as to minimize the need for further liquidity support. The Compensation and Funding Agreement required the Company to issue, in consideration for Total S.A.'s agreement to provide the Liquidity Support Facility, a warrant ("the Upfront Warrant") to Total that is exercisable to purchase a number of shares of the Company's common stock equal to $75.0 million, divided by the volume-weighted average price for the Company's common stock for the 30 trading-day period ending on the trading day immediately preceding the date of the calculation. The Upfront Warrant will be exercisable at any time for seven years after its issuance, provided that, so long as at least $25.0 million of the Company's convertible debt remains outstanding, such exercise will not cause "any person," including Total S.A., to, directly or indirectly, including through one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries, become the "beneficial owner" (as such terms are defined in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), of more than 74.99% of the voting power of the Company's common stock at such time, a circumstance which would trigger the repurchase or conversion of the Company's existing convertible debt. On February 28, 2012, the Company issued to Total the Upfront Warrant to purchase 9,531,677 shares of the Company's common stock with an exercise price of $7.8685, subject to adjustment for customary anti-dilution and other events.
	Liquidity support may be provided by Total S.A. or through its affiliates in the form of revolving non-convertible debt, convertible debt, equity, guarantees of Company indebtedness or other forms of liquidity support agreed to by the Company, depending on the amount outstanding under the facility immediately prior to provision of the applicable support among other factors. The Company is required to compensate Total S.A. for any liquidity support actually provided, and the form and amount of such compensation depends on the form and amount of support provided, with the amount of compensation generally increasing with the amount of support provided over time. Such compensation is to be provided in a variety of forms including guarantee fees, warrants to purchase common stock, interest on amounts borrowed, and discounts on equity issued.
	During the term of the Compensation and Funding Agreement, the Company will make certain cash payments to Total S.A. within 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter for the term of the agreement as follows: (i) quarterly payment of a commitment fee in an amount equal to 0.25% of the unused portion of the $600.0 million Liquidity Support Facility as of the end of such quarter; and (ii) quarterly payment of a guarantee fee in an amount equal to 2.75% per annum of the average amount of the Company's indebtedness that is guaranteed by Total S.A. pursuant to any guaranty issued in accordance with the terms of the Compensation and Funding Agreement during such quarter. Any payment obligations of the Company to Total S.A. under the Compensation and Funding Agreement that are not paid when due shall accrue interest until paid in full at a rate equal to 6-month U.S. LIBOR as in effect from time to time plus 5.00% per annum.
	On December 24, 2012, Total S.A. issued a guarantee for the Company's obligations under the September 2011 revolving credit facility with Credit Agricole (the "September 2011 revolving credit facility"). The issuance of the guarantee reduced the capacity available under the Liquidity Support Facility from $600.0 million to $325.0 million. The Company was required to pay Total S.A. an annual guarantee fee of 2.75% of the outstanding amount under the September 2012 revolving credit facility with Credit Agricole. The guarantee reduced related interest rates and removed certain financial and restrictive covenants under the facility. On July 3, 2013, the Company terminated the September 2011 revolving credit facility after establishing a new revolving credit facility with Credit Agricole (the "July 2013 revolving credit facility"). Total S.A. has issued a guarantee for the Company's obligations under the July 2013 revolving credit facility. The issuance of the guarantee, together with the termination of the similar $275.0 million guaranty of the September 2011 revolving credit facility, as described above, increased the capacity available under the Liquidity Support Facility by $25.0 million. The Company is required to pay Total S.A. an annual guarantee fee of 2.75% of the outstanding amount under the July 2013 revolving credit facility (see Note 9).
	The Company incurred fees under the Compensation and Funding Agreement of $1.5 million and $4.0 million in the three and nine months ended September 29, 2013, respectively, and $1.4 million and $3.5 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively.
	Master Agreement
	On December 23, 2011, the Company also entered into a Master Agreement with Total, under which the Company and Total agreed to a framework of transactions related to the Tenesol acquisition and Private Placement Agreement. Additionally, Total has agreed to pursue several negotiations on additional agreements related to directly investing in the Company's R&D program over a multi-year period, its purchase of modules and its development of a multi-megawatt project using the Company's products. The Company and Total amended the Master Agreement on February 20, 2013 to clarify that the development of the multi-megawatt project using the Company's products shall mean development of up to 10 C-7 Tracker demonstration projects at a total cost to Total of not more than $2.5 million provided agreements for such projects are entered into before December 31, 2013.
	0.75% Debentures Due 2018
	On May 29, 2013, the Company issued $300.0 million in principal amount of its 0.75% senior convertible debentures due 2018 (the "0.75% debentures due 2018"). $200.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the 0.75% debentures due 2018 were acquired by Total. The 0.75% debentures due 2018 are convertible into shares of the Company's common stock at any time based on an initial conversion price equal to $24.95 per share, which provides Total the right to acquire up to 8,017,420 shares of the Company's common stock. The applicable conversion rate may adjust in certain circumstances, including a fundamental change, as described in the indenture governing the 0.75% debentures due 2018 (see Note 9).

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
	Goodwill
	Goodwill is tested for impairment at least annually, or more frequently if certain indicators are present. A two-step process is used to test for goodwill impairment. The first step is to determine if there is an indication of impairment by comparing the estimated fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value, including existing goodwill. Goodwill is considered impaired if the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds the estimated fair value. Upon an indication of impairment, a second step is performed to determine the amount of the impairment by comparing the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill with its carrying value.
	The Company conducts its annual impairment test of goodwill as of the Sunday closest to the end of the third fiscal quarter of each year. Impairment of goodwill is tested at the Company's reporting unit level. Management determined that the Americas Segment, the EMEA Segment, and the APAC Segment are the reporting units. In estimating the fair value of the reporting units, the Company makes estimates and judgments about its future cash flows using an income approach defined as Level 3 inputs under fair value measurement standards. The income approach, specifically a discounted cash flow analysis, included assumptions for, among others, forecasted revenue, gross margin, operating income, working capital cash flow, perpetual growth rates and long-term discount rates, all of which require significant judgment by management. The sum of the fair values of the Company's reporting units are also compared to its external market capitalization to determine the appropriateness of its assumptions and adjusted, if appropriate. These assumptions took into account the current industry environment and its impact on the Company's business.
	Based on the impairment test as of September 30, 2012, the Company determined that the carrying value of the Americas and EMEA reporting units exceeded their fair value. As a result, the Company performed the second step of the impairment analysis for the two reporting units discussed above. The Company's calculation of the implied fair value of goodwill included significant assumptions for, among others, the fair values of recognized assets and liabilities and of unrecognized intangible assets, all of which require significant judgment by management. The Company calculated that the implied fair value of goodwill for the two reporting units was zero and therefore recorded a goodwill impairment loss of $46.7 million, representing all of the goodwill associated with these reporting units. As of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, the Company had no remaining goodwill balance.
	Other Intangible Assets
	The Company's acquired other intangible assets consist of patents, trade names and purchased technology; customer relationships; and purchased in-process research and development. As of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, the Company's other intangible assets, net of accumulated depreciation, totaled $0.5 million and $0.7 million, respectively. All of the Company's acquired other intangible assets are subject to amortization. Aggregate amortization expense for other intangible assets totaled less than $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2013, respectively, and $2.6 million and $8.1 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively.
	The Company reviews intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. During the third quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company determined that the carrying value of certain intangible assets in Europe were no longer recoverable based on a discrete evaluation of the nature of the intangible assets, incorporating the effect of declines in regional operating results. As a result, the Company recognized an impairment loss of $12.8 million on its Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012.

Balance_Sheet_Components

Balance Sheet Components	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Balance Sheet Components [Text Block]	'
	BALANCE SHEET COMPONENTS
			As of
	(In thousands)		September 29, 2013			December 30, 2012
	Accounts receivable, net:
	Accounts receivable, gross1		$	407,680		$	429,977
	Less: allowance for doubtful accounts		(27,476		)	(26,773		)
	Less: allowance for sales returns		(2,380		)	(5,054		)
			$	377,824		$	398,150
	1	Includes short-term finance receivables associated with solar power systems leased of $6.0 million and $4.5 million as of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, respectively.
	Inventories:
	Raw materials		$	79,272		$	89,331
	Work-in-process		47,212			50,627
	Finished goods		161,565			151,428
			$	288,049		$	291,386
			As of
	(In thousands)		29-Sep-13			30-Dec-12
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets:
	VAT receivables, current portion		$	99,899		$	97,041
	Foreign currency derivatives		2,198			1,275
	Deferred project costs		172,679			305,980
	Deferred costs for solar power systems to be leased		25,264			31,419
	Other receivables		78,336			104,640
	Other prepaid expenses		28,905			25,230
	Other current assets		46,314			47,468
			$	453,595		$	613,053
	Project assets - plants and land:
	Project assets — plants		$	91,911		$	61,862
	Project assets — land		9,653			21,645
			$	101,564		$	83,507
	Project assets - plants and land, current portion		$	98,005		$	75,911
	Project assets - plants and land, net of current portion		$	3,559		$	7,596
	Property, plant and equipment, net:
	Land and buildings		$	26,080		$	20,109
	Leasehold improvements		229,817			221,378
	Manufacturing equipment2		545,174			531,289
	Computer equipment		77,087			75,438
	Furniture and fixtures		8,262			8,178
	Solar power systems3		54,585			12,501
	Solar power systems leased		290,388			163,003
	Solar power systems to be leased		52,936			89,423
	Construction-in-process		9,001			34,110
			1,293,330			1,155,429
	Less: accumulated depreciation		(441,986		)	(380,520		)
			$	851,344		$	774,909
	2	The Company's mortgage loan agreement with International Finance Corporation ("IFC") is collateralized by certain manufacturing equipment with a net book value of $153.5 million and $152.9 million as of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, respectively. The Company also provided security for advance payments received from a third-party supplier in the form of collateralized manufacturing equipment with a net book value of $16.5 million as of December 30, 2012.
	3	Includes $25.3 million of solar power systems associated with sale-leaseback transactions under the financing method as of September 29, 2013 (see Note 7).
	Property, plant and equipment, net by geography4:
	Philippines		$	333,959		$	367,708
	United States		458,825			343,710
	Mexico		32,377			32,409
	Europe		25,681			29,292
	Other		502			1,790
			$	851,344		$	774,909
	4	Property, plant and equipment, net are based on the physical location of the assets.
	The table below presents the cash and non-cash interest expense capitalized to property, plant and equipment and project assets during the three and nine months ended September 29, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively.
			Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	(In thousands)		September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012			September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
	Interest expense:
	Interest cost incurred		$	(29,075	)	$	(26,912	)	$	(81,827	)	$	(66,899	)
	Cash interest cost capitalized - property, plant and equipment		39			272			267			859
	Non-cash interest cost capitalized - property, plant and equipment		—			142			57			444
	Cash interest cost capitalized - project assets - plant and land		96			395			395			944
	Non-cash interest cost capitalized - project assets - plant and land		79			269			343			717
Interest expense		$	(28,861	)	$	(25,834	)	$	(80,765	)	$	(63,935	)
		As of
(In thousands)		September 29, 2013			December 30, 2012
Other long-term assets:
Equity method investments		$	113,778		$	111,516
Bond hedge derivative		96,635			2,327
Cost method investments		12,374			14,918
Long-term financing receivables		139,177			67,742
Long-term debt issuance costs		18,153			38,185
Other		113,608			41,375
		$	493,725		$	276,063
Accrued liabilities:
VAT payables		$	5,456		$	2,049
Foreign currency derivatives		7,250			4,891
Short-term warranty reserves		9,468			9,054
Interest payable		10,840			9,672
Deferred revenue		25,521			32,507
Employee compensation and employee benefits		48,024			40,750
Restructuring reserve		11,935			29,477
Short-term residential lease financing		28,471			25,153
Other		109,489			93,819
		$	256,454		$	247,372
		As of
(In thousands)		29-Sep-13			30-Dec-12
Other long-term liabilities:
Embedded conversion option derivatives		$	96,665		$	2,327
Long-term warranty reserves		125,307			107,803
Deferred revenue		157,395			128,936
Unrecognized tax benefits		25,193			35,022
Long-term residential lease financing		28,788			11,411
Long-term sale-leaseback financing (Note 7)		36,575			—
Other		50,337			50,120
		$	520,260		$	335,619
Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Cumulative translation adjustment		$	(4,322	)	$	(2,319	)
Net unrealized loss on derivatives		(767		)	(243		)
Deferred taxes		141			41
		$	(4,948	)	$	(2,521	)
Solar Power Systems Leased and to be Leased
The Company leases solar systems to residential customers under both operating and sales-type leases. As of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, solar power systems leased under operating leases, presented in "Property, plant and equipment, net" in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets was $290.4 million and $163.0 million, respectively, and solar power systems to be leased under operating leases, presented in "Property, plant and equipment, net" in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets was $52.9 million and $89.4 million, respectively. As of September 29, 2013, financing receivables for sales-type leases, presented in "Accounts receivable, net" and "Other long-term assets" in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets was $6.0 million and $139.2 million, respectively. As of December 30, 2012, financing receivables for sales-type leases, presented in "Accounts receivable, net" and "Other long-term assets" in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets was $4.5 million and $67.7 million, respectively. Amounts recognized in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations are not significant in any period presented.
The Company has entered into multiple facilities under which solar power systems are financed with third-party investors. Under the terms of certain programs the investors make upfront payments to the Company, which the Company recognizes as a non-recourse liability that will be reduced over the specified term of the program as customer receivables and government incentives are received by the third-party investors. As the non-recourse liability is reduced over time, the Company makes a corresponding reduction in customer and government incentive receivables on its balance sheet. Under this approach, for both operating and sales-type leases the Company continues to account for these arrangements with its residential lease customers in the condensed consolidated financial statements.
As of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, the remaining liability to the third-party investors, presented in "Accrued liabilities" and "Other long-term liabilities" on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, was $57.3 million and $36.6 million, respectively. As of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, the Company has pledged solar assets with an aggregate book value of $228.3 million and $280.8 million, respectively, to the third-party investors as security for its obligations under the contractual arrangements.
Beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company has entered into facilities with third-party investors under which the parties will invest in entities which hold SunPower solar power systems and leases with residential customers. The Company was determined to hold controlling interests in these less than wholly owned entities and has fully consolidated these entities as a result. The Company accounts for the portion of net assets in the consolidated entities attributable to the investors as "Noncontrolling interests" in its condensed consolidated financial statements (see Note 1).

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Measurements [Text Block]	'
	FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
	Fair value is estimated by applying the following hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value into three levels and bases the categorization within the hierarchy upon the lowest level of input that is available and significant to the fair value measurement (observable inputs are the preferred basis of valuation):
	•	Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
	•	Level 2 — Measurements are inputs that are observable for assets or liabilities, either directly or indirectly, other than quoted prices included within Level 1.
	•	Level 3 — Prices or valuations that require management inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.
	Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
	The Company measures certain assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis. There were no transfers between fair value measurement levels during the three and nine months ended September 29, 2013 or September 30, 2012. The Company did not have any assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis requiring Level 3 inputs as of September 29, 2013 or December 30, 2012.
	The following table summarizes the Company's assets and liabilities measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, respectively:
			29-Sep-13							December 30, 2012
	(In thousands)		Total			Level 1		Level 2		Total		Level 1		Level 2
	Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents:
	Money market funds1		$	308,001		$	308,001	$	—	$	117,254	$	117,254	$	—
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets:
	Foreign currency derivatives (Note 10)		2,198			—		2,198		1,275		—		1,275
	Other long-term assets:
	Debt derivatives (Note 9)		96,635			—		96,635		2,327		—		2,327
	Foreign currency derivatives (Note 10)		384			—		384		—		—		—
	Total assets		$	407,218		$	308,001	$	99,217	$	120,856	$	117,254	$	3,602
	Liabilities
	Accrued liabilities:
	Foreign currency derivatives (Note 10)		$	7,250		$	—	$	7,250	$	4,891	$	—	$	4,891
	Other long-term liabilities:
	Debt derivatives (Note 9)		96,665			—		96,665		2,327		—		2,327
	Foreign currency derivatives (Note 10)		495			—		495		—		—		—
	Total liabilities		$	104,410		$	—	$	104,410	$	7,218	$	—	$	7,218
	1	The Company's cash equivalents consist of money market fund instruments which are classified as available-for-sale and within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices for identical instruments in active markets.
	Other financial instruments, including the Company's accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, are carried at cost, which generally approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.
	Available-for-Sale Debt Securities
	In the second quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company purchased $99.9 million in U.S. government bonds, classified as available-for-sale. The Company valued these bonds based on movements of U.S. Treasury bond rates, which are observable at commonly quoted market intervals, since the time of purchase. Accordingly, the available-for-sale debt securities were categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. During the third quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company sold all the bonds held for proceeds totaling $100.0 million.
	Debt Derivatives
	The 4.50% Bond Hedge (as defined in Note 9) and the embedded cash conversion option within the 4.50% debentures (as defined in Note 9) are classified as derivative instruments that require mark-to-market treatment with changes in fair value reported in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The fair values of these derivative instruments were determined utilizing the following Level 1 and Level 2 inputs:
		As of
		September 29, 20131			December 30, 20121
	Stock price	$	26.17		$	5.49
	Exercise price	$	22.53		$	22.53
	Interest rate	0.37		%	0.4		%
	Stock volatility	59.6		%	59.9		%
	Credit risk adjustment	1.04		%	1.07		%
	Maturity date	18-Feb-15			18-Feb-15
	1	The valuation model utilizes these inputs to value the right but not the obligation to purchase one share at $22.53. The Company utilized a Black-Scholes valuation model to value the 4.50% Bond Hedge and embedded cash conversion option. The underlying input assumptions were determined as follows:
	(i)	Stock price. The closing price of the Company's common stock on the last trading day of the quarter.
	(ii)	Exercise price. The exercise price of the 4.50% Bond Hedge and the embedded cash conversion option.
	(iii)	Interest rate. The Treasury Strip rate associated with the life of the 4.50% Bond Hedge and the embedded cash conversion option.
	(iv)	Stock volatility. The volatility of the Company's common stock over the life of the 4.50% Bond Hedge and the embedded cash conversion option.
	(v)	Credit risk adjustment. Represents the weighted average of the credit default swap rate of the counterparties.
	Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis
	The Company measures certain investments and non-financial assets (including project assets, property, plant and equipment, and other intangible assets) at fair value on a non-recurring basis in periods after initial measurement in circumstances when the fair value of such asset is impaired below its recorded cost. Information regarding the Company's other intangible asset balances are disclosed in Note 3.
	Held-to-Maturity Debt Securities
	The Company's debt securities, classified as held-to-maturity, consist of Philippine government bonds which are maintained as collateral for present and future business transactions within the country. These bonds have maturity dates of up to 5 years and are classified as "Restricted long-term marketable securities" on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, these bonds had a carrying value of $9.2 million and $10.9 million respectively. The Company records such held-to-maturity investments at amortized cost based on its ability and intent to hold the securities until maturity. The Company monitors for changes in circumstances and events that would impact its ability and intent to hold such securities until the recorded amortized costs are recovered. No other-than-temporary impairment loss was incurred during the three and nine months ended September 29, 2013 or September 30, 2012. The held-to-maturity debt securities were categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
	Equity and Cost Method Investments
	The Company's equity and cost method investments in non-consolidated entities are comprised of convertible promissory notes, common and preferred stock. The Company monitors these investments, which are included in "Other long-term assets" in its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, for impairment and records reductions in the carrying values when necessary. Circumstances that indicate an other-than-temporary decline include Level 2 and Level 3 measurements such as the valuation ascribed to the issuing company in subsequent financing rounds, decreases in quoted market prices, and declines in operations of the issuer.
	As of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, the Company had $12.4 million and $14.9 million, respectively, in investments accounted for under the cost method. As of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, $1.9 million and $5.9 million, respectively, remained due and receivable from cost method investees and $5.1 million and $12.9 million, respectively, remained due and payable to cost method investments. Further, as of September 29, 2013, outstanding long-term note receivables provided to cost method investees totaled $1.9 million.
	As of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, the Company had $113.8 million and $111.5 million, respectively, in investments accounted for under the equity method (see Note 8).

Restructuring

Restructuring	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Restructuring [Text Block]	'
	RESTRUCTURING
	October 2012 Restructuring Plan
	On October 12, 2012, the Company's Board of Directors approved a reorganization (the "October 2012 Plan") to accelerate operating cost reduction and improve overall operating efficiency. In connection with the October 2012 Plan, which is expected to be completed within the first half of fiscal 2014, the Company expects to eliminate approximately 900 positions, primarily in the Philippines, representing approximately 15% of the Company's global workforce. As a result, the Company expects to record restructuring charges totaling $30.0 million to $35.0 million, related to all segments. Such charges are composed of severance benefits, lease and related termination costs, and other associated costs. The Company expects greater than 90% of these charges to be cash.
	Legacy Restructuring Plans
	During fiscal 2012 and 2011, the Company implemented approved restructuring plans, related to all segments, to align with changes in the global solar market which included the consolidation of the Company's Philippine manufacturing operations as well as actions to accelerate operating cost reduction and improve overall operating efficiency. These restructuring activities were substantially complete as of September 29, 2013, as the remaining accrual is primarily attributable to ongoing facility lease obligations. The Company expects to continue to incur restructuring costs as it revises previous estimates in connection with these plans. Revisions to estimates will primarily be due to changes in assumptions associated with lease and related termination costs.
	The following table summarizes the restructuring charges recognized in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations:
			Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended					Cumulative To Date
			September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012			September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
	October 2012 Plan:
	Severance and benefits		$	42		$	—		$	(1,779	)	$	—	$	27,274
	Lease and related termination costs		(162		)	—			(89		)	—		625
	Other costs		176			—			1,091			—		1,551
			56			—			(777		)	—		29,450
	Legacy Restructuring Plans:
	Non-cash impairment charges		595			9,965			595			53,371		60,748
	Severance and benefits		394			(110		)	394			1,345		20,230
	Lease and related termination costs		26			(1,481		)	1,363			2,849		5,569
	Other costs		43			2,170			130			3,624		7,934
			1,058			10,544			2,482			61,189		94,481
	Total restructuring charges		$	1,114		$	10,544		$	1,705		$	61,189	$	123,931
	The following table summarizes the restructuring reserve activity during the nine months ended September 29, 2013:
			Nine Months Ended
	(In thousands)		December 30, 2012			Charges (Benefits)			Payments			September 29, 2013
	October 2012 Plan:
	Severance and benefits		$	24,439		$	(1,779	)	$	(14,676	)	$	7,984
	Lease and related termination costs		714			(89		)	(320		)	305
	Other costs1		358			1,091			(1,343		)	106
	Legacy Restructuring Plans:
	Severance and benefits		60			394			(41		)	413
	Lease and related termination costs		2,436			1,363			(1,452		)	2,347
	Other costs1		1,470			130			(820		)	780
	Total restructuring liabilities		$	29,477		$	1,110		$	(18,652	)	$	11,935
	1	Other costs primarily represent associated legal services.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies [Text Block]	'
	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
	Lease Commitments
	As of September 29, 2013, future minimum obligations under non-cancellable capital and operating leases are as follows:
			Capital Lease			Operating Lease
	(In thousands)		Amount			Amount
	Year
	2013 (remaining three months)		$	259		$	6,085
	2014		1,056			15,327
	2015		1,012			14,441
	2016		993			13,894
	2017		947			12,290
	Thereafter		2,449			85,386
			$	6,716		$	147,423
	Facilities and Equipment
	The Company leases certain facilities under non-cancellable operating leases from unaffiliated third parties. The Company additionally leases certain buildings, machinery and equipment under non-cancelable capital leases.
	Sale-Leaseback Arrangements
	The Company enters into sale-leaseback arrangements under which solar power systems are sold to third parties and subsequently leased back over minimum lease terms of up to 20 years. Separately, the Company enters into power purchase agreements ("PPAs") with end customers, who host the leased solar power systems and buy the electricity directly from the Company under PPAs with durations of up to 20 years. At the end of the lease term, the Company has the option to purchase the systems at fair value or may be required to remove the systems and return them to the third parties.
	The Company has classified its sale-leaseback arrangements of solar power systems not involving integral equipment as operating leases. The deferred profit on the sale of these systems is recognized over the term of the lease. Future minimum lease obligations associated with these systems is included in the table above. As of September 29, 2013, future minimum payments to be received from customers under PPAs associated with the solar power systems under sale-leaseback arrangements classified as operating leases was $78.2 million, which will be recognized over the lease term of up to 20 years.
	Beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company entered into sale-leaseback arrangements under which the systems under the sale-leaseback arrangements have been determined to be integral equipment as defined under the accounting guidance for such transactions. The Company was further determined to have continuing involvement with the solar power systems throughout the lease due to purchase option rights. As a result of such continuing involvement, the Company accounts for each transaction as a financing. Under the financing method, the proceeds received from the sale of the solar power systems are recorded by the Company as financing liabilities and presented within "Other long-term liabilities" in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (see Note 4). The financing liabilities are subsequently reduced by the Company's payments to lease back the solar power systems, less interest expense calculated based on the Company's incremental borrowing rate adjusted to the rate required to prevent negative amortization. The solar power systems under the sale-leaseback arrangements remains on the Company's balance sheet and are classified within "Property, plant and equipment, net" (see Note 4). As of September 29, 2013, future minimum lease obligations for the sale-leaseback arrangements accounted for under the financing method were $39.2 million, which will be recognized over the lease term of up to 20 years.
	Purchase Commitments
	The Company purchases raw materials for inventory and manufacturing equipment from a variety of vendors. During the normal course of business, in order to manage manufacturing lead times and help assure adequate supply, the Company enters into agreements with contract manufacturers and suppliers that either allow them to procure goods and services based on specifications defined by the Company, or that establish parameters defining the Company's requirements. In certain instances, these agreements allow the Company the option to cancel, reschedule or adjust the Company's requirements based on its business needs prior to firm orders being placed. Consequently, only a portion of the Company's disclosed purchase commitments arising from these agreements are firm, non-cancellable, and unconditional commitments.
	The Company also has agreements with several suppliers, including some of its non-consolidated investees, for the procurement of polysilicon, ingots, wafers, solar cells, solar panels, and Solar Renewable Energy Credits which specify future quantities and pricing of products to be supplied by the vendors for periods up to 10 years and provide for certain consequences, such as forfeiture of advanced deposits and liquidated damages relating to previous purchases, in the event that the Company terminates the arrangements.
	Future purchase obligations under non-cancellable purchase orders and long-term supply agreements as of September 29, 2013 are as follows:
	(In thousands)		Amount1
	Year
	2013 (remaining three months)		$	591,486
	2014		523,887
	2015		370,463
	2016		334,105
	2017		194,512
	Thereafter		516,979
			$	2,531,432
	Non-cancellable purchase orders		$	249,019
	Long-term supply agreements		$	2,282,413
	1	Total future purchase obligations as of September 29, 2013 include $137.7 million to related parties.
	The Company expects that all obligations related to non-cancellable purchase orders for manufacturing equipment will be recovered through future cash flows of the solar cell manufacturing lines and solar panel assembly lines when such long-lived assets are placed in service. Factors considered important that could result in an impairment review include significant under-performance relative to expected historical or projected future operating results, significant changes in the manner of use of acquired assets, and significant negative industry or economic trends. Obligations related to non-cancellable purchase orders for inventories match current and forecasted sales orders that will consume these ordered materials and actual consumption of these ordered materials are compared to expected demand regularly. The Company anticipates total obligations related to long-term supply agreements for inventories will be recovered because quantities are less than management's expected demand for its solar power products. The terms of the long-term supply agreements are reviewed by management and the Company assesses the need for any accruals for estimated losses on adverse purchase commitments, such as lower of cost or market value adjustments that will not be recovered by future sales prices, forfeiture of advanced deposits and liquidated damages, as necessary.
	Advances to Suppliers
	As noted above, the Company has entered into agreements with various vendors that specify future quantities and pricing of products to be supplied. Certain agreements also provide for penalties or forfeiture of advanced deposits in the event the Company terminates the arrangements. Under certain agreements, the Company is required to make prepayments to the vendors over the terms of the arrangements. During the three and nine months ended September 29, 2013, the Company made additional advance payments totaling $26.3 million and $41.8 million, respectively, in accordance with the terms of existing long-term supply agreements. As of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, advances to suppliers totaled $365.1 million and $351.4 million, respectively, of which $75.7 million and $50.3 million, respectively, is classified as short-term in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Two suppliers accounted for 75% and 24% of total advances to suppliers as of September 29, 2013, and 76% and 23% as of December 30, 2012.
	The Company's future prepayment obligations as of September 29, 2013 are as follows:
	(In thousands)		Amount
	Year
	2013 (remaining three months)		$	39,475
	2014		65,791
			$	105,266
	Advances from Customers
	The Company has entered into other agreements with customers who have made advance payments for solar power products and systems. These advances will be applied as shipments of product occur or upon completion of certain project milestones. The estimated utilization of advances from customers as of September 29, 2013 is as follows:
	(In thousands)		Amount
	Year
	2013 (remaining three months)		$	17,980
	2014		30,512
	2015		18,387
	2016		22,713
	2017		27,039
	Thereafter		99,144
			$	215,775
	In fiscal 2010, the Company and its joint venture, AUO SunPower Sdn. Bhd. ("AUOSP"), entered into an agreement under which the Company resells to AUOSP polysilicon purchased from a third-party supplier. Advance payments provided by AUOSP related to such polysilicon are then made by the Company to the third-party supplier. These advance payments are applied as a credit against AUOSP’s polysilicon purchases from the Company. Such polysilicon is used by AUOSP to manufacture solar cells which are sold to the Company on a "cost-plus" basis. As of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, outstanding advance payments received from AUOSP totaled $184.4 million and $190.1 million, respectively, of which $13.6 million and $8.8 million, respectively, is classified as short-term in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, based on projected product shipment dates.
	In fiscal 2007, the Company entered into an agreement with a supplier under which the Company resold polysilicon procured from different third-party suppliers. Such polysilicon was used by the supplier to manufacture ingots and wafers, which could be sold to the Company or other customers. Under this agreement, the Company received advance payments which were applied as a credit against the supplier's polysilicon purchases from the Company. During the third quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company and the supplier agreed to terminate the agreement resulting in the supplier's forfeiture of the then-outstanding advance payments held by the Company. As a result, the Company recorded a $52.0 million gain within "Cost of revenue" on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations to reflect the forfeiture of such advance payments. Additionally, pursuant to the termination of the above agreement, the Company received a 3% equity interest in the supplier that is accounted for under the cost method of accounting.
	As of December 30, 2012, outstanding advance payments received by the Company under this agreement totaled $56.1 million, of which $8.1 million is classified as short-term in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 30, 2012, these outstanding advances were fully collateralized by letters of credit totaling $32.0 million; accounts receivable of $7.6 million; and manufacturing equipment with a net book value of $16.5 million. Subsequent to the termination of the above agreement, there were no outstanding advance payments or collateralized assets.
	Product Warranties
	The Company generally warrants or guarantees the performance of the solar panels that it manufactures at certain levels of power output for 25 years. In addition, the Company passes through to customers long-term warranties from OEMs of certain system components, such as inverters. Warranties of 25 years from solar panels suppliers are standard in the solar industry, while inverters typically carry warranty periods ranging from 5 to 10 years. In addition, the Company generally warrants its workmanship on installed systems for periods ranging up to 10 years. The Company maintains reserves to cover the expected costs that could result from these warranties. The Company's expected costs are generally in the form of product replacement or repair. Warranty reserves are based on the Company's best estimate of such costs and are recognized as a cost of revenue. The Company continuously monitors product returns for warranty failures and maintains a reserve for the related warranty expenses based on various factors including historical warranty claims, results of accelerated lab testing, field monitoring, vendor reliability estimates, and data on industry averages for similar products. Historically, warranty costs have been within management's expectations.
	The following table summarizes accrued warranty activity for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively:
			Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	(In thousands)		September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012			September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
Balance at the beginning of the period		$	126,293		$	104,439		$	117,172		$	94,323
Accruals for warranties issued during the period		9,643			7,387			21,995			20,692
Settlements made during the period		(1,161		)	(2,174		)	(4,392		)	(5,363		)
Balance at the end of the period		$	134,775		$	109,652		$	134,775		$	109,652
Contingent Obligations
Projects often require the Company to undertake obligations including: (i) system output performance guarantees; (ii) system maintenance; (iii) penalty payments or customer termination rights if the system the Company is constructing is not commissioned within specified timeframes or other milestones are not achieved; and (iv) system put-rights whereby the Company could be required to buy-back a customer's system at fair value on specified future dates if certain minimum performance thresholds are not met for periods of up to two years. Historically the systems have performed significantly above the performance guarantee thresholds, and there have been no cases in which the Company had to buy back a system.
Future Financing Commitments
The Company is required to provide certain funding under the joint venture agreement with AU Optronics Singapore Pte. Ltd. ("AUO") and another unconsolidated investee, subject to certain conditions (see Note 8).
The Company's future financing obligations related to these agreements as of September 29, 2013 are as follows:
(In thousands)		Amount
Year
2013 (remaining three months)		$	147,120
2014		96,770
		$	243,890
Liabilities Associated with Uncertain Tax Positions
Total liabilities associated with uncertain tax positions were $25.2 million and $35.0 million as of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, respectively, and are included in "Other long-term liabilities" in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as they are not expected to be paid within the next twelve months. Due to the complexity and uncertainty associated with its tax positions, the Company cannot make a reasonably reliable estimate of the period in which cash settlement, if any, would be made for its liabilities associated with uncertain tax positions in other long-term liabilities.
Indemnifications
The Company is a party to a variety of agreements under which it may be obligated to indemnify the other party with respect to certain matters. Typically, these obligations arise in connection with contracts and license agreements or the sale of assets, under which the Company customarily agrees to hold the other party harmless against losses arising from a breach of warranties, representations and covenants related to such matters as title to assets sold, negligent acts, damage to property, validity of certain intellectual property rights, non-infringement of third-party rights, and certain tax related matters including indemnification to customers under §48(c) solar commercial investment tax credit and Treasury Grant payments under Section 1603 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. In each of these circumstances, payment by the Company is typically subject to the other party making a claim to the Company under the procedures specified in the particular contract. These procedures usually allow the Company to challenge the other party's claims or, in case of breach of intellectual property representations or covenants, to control the defense or settlement of any third party claims brought against the other party. Further, the Company's obligations under these agreements may be limited in terms of activity (typically to replace or correct the products or terminate the agreement with a refund to the other party), duration and/or amounts. In some instances, the Company may have recourse against third parties and/or insurance covering certain payments made by the Company.
Legal Matters
Three securities class action lawsuits were filed against the Company and certain of its current and former officers and directors in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California on behalf of a class consisting of those who acquired the Company's securities from April 17, 2008 through November 16, 2009. The cases were consolidated as In re SunPower Securities Litigation, Case No. CV-09-5473-RS (N.D. Cal.), and lead plaintiffs and lead counsel were appointed on March 5, 2010. Lead plaintiffs filed a consolidated complaint on May 28, 2010. The actions arise from the Audit Committee's investigation announcement on November 16, 2009 regarding certain unsubstantiated accounting entries. The consolidated complaint alleges that the defendants made material misstatements and omissions concerning the Company's financial results for 2008 and 2009, seeks an unspecified amount of damages, and alleges violations of sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933. The court held a hearing on the defendants' motions to dismiss the consolidated complaint on November 4, 2010. The court dismissed the consolidated complaint with leave to amend on March 1, 2011. An amended complaint was filed on April 18, 2011. The amended complaint added two former employees of the Company as defendants. Defendants filed motions to dismiss the amended complaint on May 23, 2011. The motions to dismiss the amended complaint were heard by the court on August 11, 2011. On December 19, 2011, the court granted in part and denied in part the motions to dismiss, dismissing the claims brought pursuant to sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 and the claims brought against the two newly added former employees. On December 14, 2012, the Company announced that it reached an agreement in principle to settle the consolidated securities class action lawsuit for $19.7 million. The Company recorded a charge in its fiscal fourth quarter of 2012 in the same amount which is further classified within "Accrued liabilities" on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 30, 2012. On July 3, 2013, the court granted final approval of the settlement and entered an order of final judgment and dismissal with prejudice.
Derivative actions purporting to be brought on the Company's behalf have also been filed in state and federal courts against several of the Company's current and former officers and directors based on the same events alleged in the securities class action lawsuits described above. The California state derivative cases were consolidated as In re SunPower Corp. S'holder Derivative Litig., Lead Case No. 1-09-CV-158522 (Santa Clara Sup. Ct.), and co-lead counsel for plaintiffs have been appointed. The complaints assert state-law claims for breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, unjust enrichment, gross mismanagement, and waste of corporate assets. Plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended complaint on March 5, 2012. The federal derivative complaints were consolidated as In re SunPower Corp. S'holder Derivative Litig., Master File No. CV-09-05731-RS (N.D. Cal.), and lead plaintiffs and co-lead counsel were appointed on January 4, 2010. The federal complaints assert state-law claims for breach of fiduciary duty, waste of corporate assets, and unjust enrichment, and seek an unspecified amount of damages. Plaintiffs filed a consolidated complaint on May 13, 2011. A Delaware state derivative case, Brenner v. Albrecht, et al., C.A. No. 6514-VCP (Del Ch.), was filed on May 23, 2011 in the Delaware Court of Chancery. The complaint asserts state-law claims for breach of fiduciary duty and contribution and indemnification, and seeks an unspecified amount of damages. On June 29, 2013, the parties to each of the derivative actions entered into an agreement in principle to settle all the derivative actions.  The terms of the settlement in principle include that the Company institute certain specified corporate governance measures, which were implemented by the Board of Directors on October 22, 2013 in connection with periodic review and update of corporate governance matters, that all claims against all defendants will be released and dismissed with prejudice, and that the Company will not oppose a request by the plaintiffs' counsel for an award of attorneys' fees up to $1 million, one half of which will be paid from the proceeds of directors and officers liability insurance.  The settlement in principle is subject to final documentation and to court approval. The parties are in the process of preparing a settlement agreement reflecting the terms of the agreement in principle, and intend to present the settlement for court approval.
The Company is also a party to various other litigation matters and claims that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of its business. While the Company believes that the ultimate outcome of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company, their outcomes are not determinable and negative outcomes may adversely affect the Company's financial position, liquidity or results of operations.

Equity_Method_Investments

Equity Method Investments	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]	'
Equity Method Investments [Text Block]	'
	EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS
	The Company accounts for its equity interests in its unconsolidated investees described below under the equity method of accounting as it has the ability to exercise significant influence, but does not own a majority equity interest in, or otherwise control, the investees. As of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, the Company's carrying value of its equity method investments totaled $113.8 million and $111.5 million, respectively, and is classified as “Other long-term assets” in its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company's share of its earnings (loss) from equity method investments is reflected as "Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated investees" in its Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.
	Related Party Transactions with Equity Method Investees:
		As of
	(In thousands)	September 29, 2013		30-Dec-12
	Accounts receivable	$	10,304	$	17,847
	Accounts payable	48,080		63,469
	Other long-term assets:
	Long-term note receivable	1,863		1,040
		Three Months Ended				Nine months Ended
	(In thousands)	September 29, 2013		September 30, 2012		September 29, 2013		September 30, 2012
	Payments made to equity method investees for products/services	$	112,416	$	123,112	$	338,495	$	452,379
	Equity Investment in Huaxia CPV (Inner Mongolia) Power Co., Ltd. ("CCPV")
	In December 2012, the Company entered into an agreement with Tianjin Zhonghuan Semiconductor Co. Ltd. ("TZS"), Inner Mongolia Power Group Co. Ltd. ("IMP") and Hohhot Jinqiao City Development Company Co., Ltd. ("HJCD") to form CCPV, a jointly owned entity to manufacture and deploy the Company's C-7 Tracker concentrator technology in Inner Mongolia and other regions in China. Huaxia CPV will be based in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company will invest RMB 100,000,000 (or approximately $16.3 million based on the exchange rate as of September 29, 2013), for a 25% equity ownership in CCPV, with the investment to be made over a period of two years subsequent to the establishment of the entity. The establishment of the entity is subject to approval of the Chinese government. No contributions have been made to date.
	Equity Investment in Diamond Energy Pty Ltd. ("Diamond Energy")
	In October 2012, the Company made a $3.0 million equity investment in Diamond Energy, an alternative energy project developer and clean electricity retailer headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, in exchange for a 25% equity ownership. The Company additionally provided Diamond Energy AUD 2.0 million (or $1.9 million based on the exchange rate as of September 29, 2013) under a five-year convertible note agreement and will receive interest of 1% per annum on the amounts lent to Diamond Energy, to be paid upon conversion or maturity.
	The Company has concluded that it is not the primary beneficiary of Diamond Energy since, although the Company is obligated to absorb losses and has the right to receive benefits, the Company alone does not have the power to direct the activities of Diamond that most significantly impact its economic performance. The Company accounts for its investment in Diamond using the equity method since the Company is able to exercise significant influence over Diamond due to its board position.
	Equity Investment and Joint Venture with AUOSP
	In fiscal 2010, the Company, AUO and AU Optronics Corporation, the ultimate parent company of AUO ("AUO Taiwan"), formed the joint venture AUOSP. The Company and AUO each own 50% of the joint venture AUOSP. AUOSP owns a solar cell manufacturing facility ("FAB 3") in Malaysia and manufactures solar cells and sells them on a "cost-plus" basis to the Company and AUO.
	In connection with the joint venture agreement, the Company and AUO also entered into licensing and joint development, supply, and other ancillary transaction agreements. Through the licensing agreement, the Company and AUO licensed to AUOSP, on a non-exclusive, royalty-free basis, certain background intellectual property related to solar cell manufacturing (in the case of the Company), and manufacturing processes (in the case of AUO). Under the seven-year supply agreement with AUOSP, renewable by the Company for one-year periods thereafter, the Company is committed to purchase 80% of AUOSP's total annual output allocated on a monthly basis to the Company, in fiscal year 2013 and thereafter. The Company and AUO have the right to reallocate supplies from time to time under a written agreement. As required under the joint venture agreement, in fiscal 2010, the Company and AUOSP entered into an agreement under which the Company will resell to AUOSP polysilicon purchased from a third-party supplier and AUOSP will provide prepayments to the Company related to such polysilicon, which prepayment will then be made by the Company to the third-party supplier.
	The Company and AUO are not permitted to transfer any of AUOSP's shares held by them, except to each other and to their direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries. In the joint venture agreement, the Company and AUO agreed to each contribute additional amounts through 2014 amounting to $241.0 million, or such lesser amount as the parties may mutually agree. In addition, if AUOSP, the Company or AUO requests additional equity financing to AUOSP, then the Company and AUO will each be required to make additional cash contributions of up to $50.0 million in the aggregate (See Note 7).
	The Company has concluded that it is not the primary beneficiary of AUOSP since, although the Company and AUO are both obligated to absorb losses or have the right to receive benefits, the Company alone does not have the power to direct the activities of AUOSP that most significantly impact its economic performance. In making this determination the Company considered the shared power arrangement, including equal board governance for significant decisions, elective appointment, and the fact that both parties contribute to the activities that most significantly impact the joint venture's economic performance. The Company accounts for its investment in AUOSP using the equity method as a result of the shared power arrangement. As of September 29, 2013, the Company's maximum exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with AUOSP is limited to the carrying value of its investment.
	Equity Investment in First Philec Solar Corporation ("First Philec Solar")
	In fiscal 2007, the Company and First Philippine Electric Corporation ("First Philec") formed First Philec Solar, a jointly owned entity to provide wafer slicing services of silicon ingots to the Company in the Philippines. The Company supplied to First Philec Solar silicon ingots and technology required for slicing silicon. Once manufactured, the Company purchased the completed silicon wafers from First Philec Solar under a six-year wafering supply and sales agreement, which the Company terminated in the third quarter of fiscal 2012. There is no obligation or expectation for the Company to provide additional funding to First Philec Solar.
	The Company has concluded that it is not the primary beneficiary of First Philec Solar since, although the Company and First Philec are both obligated to absorb losses or have the right to receive benefits from First Philec Solar, such variable interests held by the Company do not empower it to direct the activities that most significantly impact First Philec Solar's economic performance. In reaching this determination, the Company considered the significant control exercised by First Philec over the joint venture's Board of Directors, management and daily operations. The Company accounts for its investment in First Philec Solar using the equity method since the Company is able to exercise significant influence over First Philec Solar due to its board positions.
	Equity Investment in Woongjin Energy Co., Ltd ("Woongjin Energy")
	In fiscal 2006, the Company and Woongjin Holdings Co., Ltd. ("Woongjin") formed Woongjin Energy, a jointly owned entity to manufacture monocrystalline silicon ingots in Korea. The Company may supply polysilicon, services, and technical support required for silicon ingot manufacturing to Woongjin Energy. Once manufactured, the Company may purchase the silicon ingots from Woongjin Energy under a nine-year agreement through 2016. There is no obligation or expectation for the Company to provide additional funding to Woongjin Energy.
	During fiscal 2010, Woongjin Energy completed its initial public offering ("IPO") and the sale of 15.9 million new shares of common stock. As a result of the IPO, the Company concluded that Woongjin Energy was no longer a variable interest entity. During fiscal 2011, the Company sold 15.5 million shares of Woongjin Energy on the open market, reducing the Company's percentage equity ownership in Woongjin Energy from 31% to 6%. During the first quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company sold its remaining shares of Woongjin Energy on the open market for total proceeds which equaled the remaining investment carrying balance. As a result, the Company's percentage equity ownership and investment carrying balance was reduced to zero.
	The Company accounted for its former investment in Woongjin Energy using the equity method as the Company was able to exercise significant influence over Woongjin Energy due to its board position and its consumption of a significant portion of their output.

Debt_and_Credit_Sources

Debt and Credit Sources	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Debt and Credit Sources [Text Block]	'
	DEBT AND CREDIT SOURCES
	The following table summarizes the Company's outstanding debt as of September 29, 2013 and the related maturity dates:
					Payments Due by Period
	(In thousands)		Face Value		2013 (remaining three months)		2014		2015		2016		2017		Beyond 2017
	Convertible debt:
	0.75% debentures due 2018		$	300,000	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	300,000
	4.50% debentures due 2015		250,000		—		—		250,000		—		—		—
	4.75% debentures due 2014		230,000		—		230,000		—		—		—		—
	0.75% debentures due 2015		79		—		—		79		—		—		—
	IFC mortgage loan		62,500		—		15,000		15,000		15,000		15,000		2,500
	CEDA loan		30,000		—		—		—		—		—		30,000
	Other debt1		70,783		30,027		31,077		582		567		548		7,982
			$	943,362	$	30,027	$	276,077	$	265,661	$	15,567	$	15,548	$	340,482
	1	The balance of Other debt excludes payments related to capital leases which are disclosed in Note 7. "Commitments and Contingencies" to these condensed consolidated financial statements.
	Convertible Debt
	The following table summarizes the Company's outstanding convertible debt:
			September 29, 2013						December 30, 2012
	(In thousands)		Carrying Value		Face Value		Fair Value1		Carrying Value		Face Value		Fair Value1
	Convertible debt:
	0.75% debentures due 2018		$	300,000	$	300,000	$	354,303	$	—	$	—	$	—
	4.50% debentures due 2015		221,293		250,000		328,815		208,550		250,000		228,750
	4.75% debentures due 2014		230,000		230,000		263,127		230,000		230,000		218,960
	0.75% debentures due 2015		79		79		74		79		79		79
			$	751,372	$	780,079	$	946,319	$	438,629	$	480,079	$	447,789
	1	The fair value of the convertible debt was determined using Level 1 inputs based on quarterly market prices as reported by an independent pricing source.
	The Company's outstanding convertible debentures are senior, unsecured obligations of the Company, ranking equally with all existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness of the Company.
	0.75% Debentures Due 2018
	On May 29, 2013, the Company issued $300.0 million in principal amount of its 0.75% debentures due 2018. Interest on the 0.75% debentures due 2018 is payable on June 1 and December 1 of each year, beginning on December 1, 2013. Holders are able to exercise their right to convert the debentures at any time into shares of the Company's common stock at an initial conversion price approximately equal to $24.95 per share. The applicable conversion rate may be subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. The maximum number of shares of the Company's common stock that may be issued through the conversion is 15,633,957, subject to anti-dilution and certain other adjustments. If not earlier converted, the 0.75% debentures due 2018 mature on June 1, 2018. If the Company undergoes a fundamental change, as described in the indenture governing the 0.75% debentures due 2018, holders may require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of their 0.75% debentures due 2018 at a cash repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest. If the Company undergoes a non-stock change of control fundamental change, as described in the governing indenture, the 0.75% debentures due 2018 will be subject to redemption at the Company's option, in whole but not in part, for a period of 30 calendar days following a repurchase date relating to the non-stock change of control fundamental change, at a cash redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest. In the event of certain events of default, Wells Fargo, the trustee, or the holders of a specified amount of then-outstanding 0.75% debentures due 2018 will have the right to declare all amounts then outstanding due and payable.
	4.50% Debentures due 2015
	In fiscal 2010, the Company issued $250.0 million in principal amount of its 4.50% senior cash convertible debentures ("4.50% debentures due 2015"). Interest is payable semi-annually, on March 15 and September 15 of each year, at a rate of 4.50% per annum which commenced on September 15, 2010. The 4.50% debentures due 2015 mature on March 15, 2015 unless repurchased or converted in accordance with their terms prior to such date.
	The 4.50% debentures due 2015 are convertible only into cash, and not into shares of the Company's common stock (or any other securities). Prior to December 15, 2014, if the weighted average price of the Company's common stock is more than 130% of the then current conversion price for at least 20 out of 30 consecutive trade days ending on the last trading day of the fiscal quarter, then holders of the 4.50% debentures due 2015 have the right to convert the debentures any day in the following fiscal quarter and, thereafter, they will be convertible at any time in the succeeding fiscal quarter, based on an initial conversion price of $22.53 per share of the Company's common stock. The conversion price will be subject to adjustment in certain events, such as distributions of dividends or stock splits. Upon conversion, the Company will deliver an amount of cash calculated by reference to the price of its common stock over the applicable observation period. The Company may not redeem the 4.50% debentures due 2015 prior to maturity. Holders may also require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of their 4.50% debentures due 2015 upon a fundamental change, as defined in the debenture agreement, at a cash repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest. In the event of certain events of default, such as the Company's failure to make certain payments or perform or observe certain obligations thereunder, Wells Fargo, the trustee, or holders of a specified amount of then-outstanding 4.50% debentures will have the right to declare all amounts then outstanding due and payable.
	The embedded cash conversion option within the 4.50% debentures due 2015 is a derivative instrument that is required to be separated from the 4.50% debentures due 2015 and accounted for separately as a derivative instrument (derivative liability) with changes in fair value reported in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations until such transaction settles or expires. The initial fair value liability of the embedded cash conversion option was classified within "Other long-term liabilities" and simultaneously reduced the carrying value of "Convertible debt, net of current portion" in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
	During the three and nine months ended September 29, 2013, the Company recognized a non-cash loss of $35.9 million and $94.3 million, respectively, recorded in "Other, net" in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations related to the change in fair value of the embedded cash conversion option. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company recognized a non-cash gain of $0.9 million and non-cash loss of $0.8 million, respectively, recorded in "Other, net" in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations related to the change in fair value of the embedded cash conversion option.
	Call Spread Overlay with Respect to 4.50% Debentures
	Concurrent with the issuance of the 4.50% debentures due 2015, the Company entered into privately negotiated convertible debenture hedge transactions (collectively, the "4.50% Bond Hedge") and warrant transactions (collectively, the "4.50% Warrants" and together with the 4.50% Bond Hedge, the “CSO2015”), with certain of the initial purchasers of the 4.50% cash convertible debentures or their affiliates. The CSO2015 transactions represent a call spread overlay with respect to the 4.50% debentures due 2015, whereby the cost of the 4.50% Bond Hedge purchased by the Company to cover the cash outlay upon conversion of the debentures is reduced by the sales prices of the 4.50% Warrants. Assuming full performance by the counterparties (and 4.50% Warrants strike prices in excess of the conversion price of the 4.50% debentures due 2015), the transactions effectively reduce the Company's potential payout over the principal amount on the 4.50% debentures due 2015 upon conversion of the 4.50% debentures due 2015.
	Under the terms of the 4.50% Bond Hedge, the Company bought from affiliates of certain of the initial purchasers options to acquire, at an exercise price of $22.53 per share, subject to customary adjustments for anti-dilution and other events, cash in an amount equal to the market value of up to 11.1 million shares of the Company's common stock. Under the terms of the amended 4.50% Warrants the Company sold to affiliates of certain of the initial purchasers of the 4.50% cash convertible debentures warrants to acquire, at an exercise price of $24.00 per share, up to 11.1 million shares of the Company's common stock. Each 4.50% Bond Hedge and 4.50% Warrant transaction is a separate transaction, entered into by the Company with each counterparty, and is not part of the terms of the 4.50% debentures due 2015.
	The 4.50% Bond Hedge, which is indexed to the Company's common stock, is a derivative instrument that requires mark-to-market accounting treatment due to the cash settlement features until such transactions settle or expire. The initial fair value of the 4.50% Bond Hedge was classified as "Other long-term assets" in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
	During the three and nine months ended September 29, 2013, the Company recognized a non-cash gain of $36.0 million and $94.3 million, respectively, in "Other, net" in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations related to the change in fair value of the 4.50% Bond Hedge. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company recognized a non-cash loss of $0.9 million and a non-cash gain of $0.8 million, respectively, in "Other, net" in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations related to the change in fair value of the 4.50% Bond Hedge.
	4.75% Debentures
	In May 2009, the Company issued $230.0 million in principal amount of its 4.75% senior convertible debentures ("4.75% debentures due 2014"). Interest on the 4.75% debentures due 2014 is payable on April 15 and October 15 of each year. Holders of the 4.75% debentures due 2014 are able to exercise their right to convert the debentures at any time into shares of the Company's common stock at a conversion price equal to $26.40 per share. The applicable conversion rate may adjust in certain circumstances, including upon a non-stock fundamental change, as described in the indenture governing the 4.75% debentures. If not earlier converted, the 4.75% debentures due 2014 mature on April 15, 2014. Holders may also require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of their 4.75% debentures due 2014 upon a fundamental change at a cash repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest. In the event of certain events of default, such as the Company's failure to make certain payments or perform or observe certain obligations thereunder, Wells Fargo, the trustee, or holders of a specified amount of then-outstanding 4.75% debentures due 2014 will have the right to declare all amounts then outstanding due and payable.
	Call Spread Overlay with Respect to the 4.75% Debentures
	Concurrently with the issuance of the 4.75% debentures due 2014, the Company entered into certain convertible debenture hedge transactions (the "4.75% Bond Hedge") and warrant transactions (the "4.75% Warrants") with affiliates of certain of the underwriters of the 4.75% debentures (together, the "CSO2014"), whereby the cost of the 4.75% Bond Hedges purchased by the Company to cover the potential share outlays upon conversion of the debentures is reduced by the sales prices of the 4.75% Warrants. The CSO2014 are not subject to mark-to-market accounting treatment since they may only be settled by issuance of the Company's common stock.
	The 4.75% Bond Hedge allows the Company to purchase up to 8.7 million shares of the Company's common stock. The 4.75% Bond Hedge will be settled on a net share basis. Each 4.75% Bond Hedge and 4.75% Warrant is a separate transaction, entered into by the Company with each counterparty, and is not part of the terms of the 4.75% debentures. Holders of the 4.75% debentures due 2014 do not have any rights with respect to the 4.75% Bond Hedges and 4.75% Warrants. The exercise prices of the 4.75% Bond Hedge are $26.40 per share of the Company's common stock, subject to customary adjustment for anti-dilution and other events.
	Under the amended 4.75% Warrants, the Company sold warrants to acquire up to 8.7 million shares of the Company's common stock at an exercise price of $26.40 per share of the Company's common stock, subject to adjustment for certain anti-dilution and other events. The 4.75% Warrants expire in 2014.
	1.25% Debentures
	In fiscal 2007, the Company issued $200.0 million in principal amount of its 1.25% senior convertible debentures and received net proceeds of $194.0 million. On February 16, 2012, based upon the exercise of the holders' put rights, the Company repurchased the outstanding 1.25% debentures at a cash price of $199.8 million, representing 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest. None of the 1.25% debentures remained issued and outstanding after the repurchase.
	July 2007 Share Lending Arrangement
	Concurrent with the offering of the Company's 0.75% debentures due 2015, the Company lent 1.8 million shares of its former class A common stock to Credit Suisse International ("CSI"), an affiliate of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC ("Credit Suisse"), one of the underwriters of the 0.75% debentures due 2015. The loaned shares were to be used to facilitate the establishment by investors in the 1.25% debentures due 2012 and the 0.75% debentures due 2015 of hedged positions in the Company's common stock. In connection with the Company's repurchase of 100% of the principal amount of the 1.25% debentures, on February 23, 2012, the 1.8 million shares of the Company's common stock lent to CSI were returned and the share lending agreement was thereby terminated.
	Other Debt and Credit Sources
	Mortgage Loan Agreement with IFC
	On May 6, 2010, the Company entered into a mortgage loan agreement with IFC. Under the loan agreement, the Company may borrow up to $75.0 million during the first two years, and shall repay the amount borrowed, starting 2 years after the date of borrowing, in 10 equal semiannual installments over the following 5 years. On October 3, 2012, IFC granted a temporary waiver of a financial covenant for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 through the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013. Subsequent to the waiver, the Company is required to pay interest of LIBOR plus 3% per annum on outstanding borrowings through January 5, 2013; interest of LIBOR plus 4.25% per annum on outstanding borrowings from January 6, 2013 through September 30, 2013; interest of LIBOR plus 5% per annum on outstanding borrowings from October 1, 2013 through January 5, 2014; a front-end fee of 1% on the principal amount of borrowings at the time of borrowing; and a commitment fee of 0.5% per annum on funds available for borrowing and not borrowed. If we utilize the waiver for the fourth quarter of 2013, the 2013 rates would continue to apply in 2014. If the Company does not need to utilize the waiver, it is required to pay interest of LIBOR plus 3% per annum on outstanding borrowings; a front-end fee of 1% on the principal amount of borrowings at the time of borrowing; and a commitment fee of 0.5% per annum on funds available for borrowing and not borrowed. The Company may prepay all or a part of the outstanding principal, subject to a 1% prepayment premium. The Company has pledged certain assets as collateral supporting its repayment obligations (see Note 4). Additionally, in accordance with the terms of the agreement, the Company is required to establish a debt service reserve account which shall contain the amount, as determined by IFC, equal to the aggregate principal and interest due on the next succeeding interest payment date after such date. As of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, the Company had restricted cash and cash equivalents of $9.2 million and $6.4 million, respectively, related to the IFC debt service reserve.
	The Company's outstanding borrowings under the mortgage loan agreement with IFC on its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows:
			As of
	(In thousands)		September 29, 2013		December 30, 2012
	Short-term debt		$	15,000	$	12,500
	Long-term debt		47,500		62,500
			$	62,500	$	75,000
	Loan Agreement with California Enterprise Development Authority ("CEDA")
	On December 29, 2010, the Company borrowed the proceeds of the $30.0 million aggregate principal amount of CEDA's tax-exempt Recovery Zone Facility Revenue Bonds (SunPower Corporation - Headquarters Project) Series 2010 (the "Bonds") maturing April 1, 2031 under a loan agreement with CEDA. The Company's obligations under the loan agreement are contained in a promissory note dated December 29, 2010 issued by the Company to CEDA, which assigned the promissory note, along with all right, title and interest in the loan agreement, to Wells Fargo, as trustee, with respect to the Bonds for the benefit of the holders of the Bonds. The Bonds initially bore interest at a variable interest rate (determined weekly), but in June 2011, at the Company's option, were converted into fixed-rate bonds at 8.50% per annum (which include covenants of, and other restrictions on the Company). Additionally, in accordance with the terms of the loan agreement, the Company is required to keep all loan proceeds on deposit with Wells Fargo, the trustee, until funds are withdrawn by it for use in relation to the design and leasehold improvements of its new corporate headquarters in San Jose, California. As of both September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, the Company had restricted cash and cash equivalents of $3.0 million, for design and leasehold improvements and debt service reserves under the CEDA loan agreement.
	The Company's outstanding borrowings under the loan agreement with CEDA on its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets is as follows:
			As of
	(In thousands)		September 29, 2013		December 30, 2012
	Long-term debt		$	30,000	$	30,000
July 2013 Revolving Credit Facility with Credit Agricole
On July 3, 2013, the Company entered into the July 2013 revolving credit facility with Credit Agricole, as administrative agent, and certain financial institutions, under which the Company may borrow up to $250 million until the earliest of: (i) July 3, 2016; (ii) December 31, 2014, if the Company has not repaid, exchanged or repurchased its outstanding 4.50% debentures due 2015 by September 30, 2014 and is not in compliance with certain liquidity requirements as of such date; and (iii) January 31, 2014, if the conditions precedent to the Restructuring (as defined below) have not been met or waived as of such date (the earliest of the above events, the "Maturity Date"). The July 2013 revolving credit facility allows the Company to request increases to the available capacity of the revolving credit facility to an aggregate of $300.0 million, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. The July 2013 revolving credit facility includes representations, covenants, and events of default customary for financing transactions of this type. On or about January 31, 2014 (the “Restructuring Date”), (i) the Company's obligations under the July 2013 revolving credit facility will become secured by a pledge of certain accounts receivable and inventory of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries, (ii) certain of the Company's subsidiaries will enter into guaranties of the July 2013 revolving credit facility, and (iii) Total S.A.'s guarantee of the Company's obligations under the July 2013 revolving credit facility will expire (collectively, the “Restructuring”). Amounts borrowed may be repaid and reborrowed until the Maturity Date.
Prior to the Restructuring Date, the Company is required to pay interest on outstanding borrowings under the July 2013 revolving credit facility and fees of (a) with respect to any LIBOR rate loan, 0.60% plus the LIBOR rate divided by a percentage equal to one minus the stated maximum rate of all reserves required to be maintained against "Eurocurrency liabilities" as specified in Regulation D; (b) with respect to any alternative base rate loan, 0.25% plus the greater of (1) the prime rate, (2) the Federal funds rate plus 0.50%, and (3) the one month LIBOR rate plus 1%; (c) a commitment fee of 0.06% per annum on funds available for borrowing and not borrowed; and (d) an upfront fee of 0.20% of the Revolving Loan Commitment.
Following the Restructuring Date, the Company will be required to pay interest on outstanding borrowings under the July 2013 revolving credit facility and fees of (a) with respect to any LIBOR rate loan, an amount ranging from 1.50% to 2.00% (depending on the Company's leverage ratio from time to time) plus the LIBOR rate divided by a percentage equal to one minus the stated maximum rate of all reserves required to be maintained against “Eurocurrency liabilities” as specified in Regulation D; (b) with respect to any alternate base rate loan, an amount ranging from 0.50% to 1.00% (depending on the Company's leverage ratio from time to time) plus the greater of (1) the prime rate, (2) the Federal Funds rate plus 0.50%, and (3) the one-month LIBOR rate plus 1%; and (c) a commitment fee ranging from 0.25% to 0.35% (depending on the Company's leverage ratio from time to time) per annum on funds available for borrowing and not borrowed.
The July 2013 revolving credit facility was entered into in conjunction with the delivery by Total S.A. of a guarantee of the Company's obligations under the related facility. The Company is required to pay Total S.A. an annual guarantee fee of 2.75% of the outstanding amount under the July 2013 revolving credit facility. The issuance of the guarantee, together with the termination of the similar $275.0 million guaranty of the September 2011 revolving credit facility, as described below, increased the capacity available under the Liquidity Support Facility by $25.0 million.
As of September 29, 2013, the Company had no outstanding borrowing under the July 2013 revolving credit facility.
September 2011 Revolving Credit Facility with Credit Agricole
On September 27, 2011, the Company entered into the September 2011 revolving credit facility with Credit Agricole, as administrative agent, and certain financial institutions, under which the Company was able to borrow up to $275.0 million until September 27, 2013. Amounts borrowed were to be repaid and reborrowed until September 27, 2013.
On December 24, 2012, the Company amended the facility to reflect Total S.A.'s guarantee of its obligations under the facility. The facility amendment extended the maturity date to January 31, 2014, reduced interest rates payable and removed certain financial and restrictive covenants. Subsequent to the amendment, the Company was required to pay interest on outstanding borrowings of (a) with respect to any LIBOR loan, 0.6% plus the LIBOR divided by a percentage equal to one minus the stated maximum rate of all reserves required to be maintained against "Eurocurrency liabilities" as specified in Regulation D; and (b) with respect to any alternative base loan, 0.25% plus the greater of (1) the prime rate, (2) the Federal Funds rate plus 0.5%, and (3) the one month LIBOR plus 1%; and a commitment fee equal to 0.06% per annum on funds available for borrowing and not borrowed.
On July 3, 2013, the Company terminated its September 2011 revolving credit facility after establishing the July 2013 revolving credit facility, as described above. There were no outstanding borrowings under the September 2011 revolving credit facility upon termination.
The Company's outstanding borrowings under the September 2011 revolving credit facility on its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets is as follows:
		As of
(In thousands)		September 29, 2013		December 30, 2012
Long-term debt		$	—	$	275,000
Liquidity Support Agreement with Total S.A.
On February 28, 2012, the Company entered into a Liquidity Support Agreement with Total S.A. and the DOE, and a series of related agreements with Total S.A. and Total, under which Total S.A. has agreed to provide the Company, or cause to be provided, additional liquidity under certain circumstances (see Note 2). As of September 29, 2013, $350.0 million remained available to the Company under the facility.
Other Debt
In order to facilitate the construction and sale of certain solar projects, the Company obtains non-recourse project loans which in certain cases permit customers to assume the loans at the time of sale. These loans are contemplated as part of the structure of the sales transaction and not guaranteed or otherwise supported by SunPower. As of September 29, 2013, the Company has drawn down ILS 214.5 million (or approximately $60.4 million based on the exchange rate as of September 29, 2013) under two project loans with a consortium of lenders to facilitate the development of two 10 MW utility and power plant projects under construction in Israel.
During the second quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company entered into a long-term non-recourse loan agreement with a third-party financial institution to finance a 4.5 MW utility and power plant operating in Arizona. The outstanding balance of the loan as of September 29, 2013 was $9.1 million.
Other debt is further comprised of non-recourse project loans related to Tenesol established in 2003 and 2008 which are scheduled to mature through 2028 and totaled $1.1 million as of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, respectively. Also, the Company's sublessor has made improvements to one of the Company's operating leases, reimbursable by the Company at monthly installments over the remaining lease term. The outstanding balance of the loan as of September 29, 2013 was $0.2 million.
The Company's other outstanding borrowings on its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows:
		As of
(In thousands)		September 29, 2013		December 30, 2012
Short-term debt		$	60,855	$	134
Long-term debt		9,928		1,234
		$	70,783	$	1,368
August 2011 Letter of Credit Facility with Deutsche Bank
On August 9, 2011, the Company entered into a letter of credit facility agreement with Deutsche Bank, as issuing bank and as administrative agent, and certain financial institutions, which was amended on December 20, 2011. Payment of obligations under the letter of credit facility is guaranteed by Total S.A. pursuant to the Credit Support Agreement. The letter of credit facility provides for the issuance, upon request by the Company, of letters of credit by the issuing banks thereunder in order to support certain obligations of the Company, in an aggregate amount not to exceed (a) $725.0 million until December 31, 2012; and (b) $771.0 million for the period from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013. Aggregate letter of credit amounts may be increased upon the agreement of the parties but, otherwise, may not exceed (i) $878.0 million for the period from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014; (ii) $936.0 million for the period from January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015; and (iii) $1.0 billion for the period from January 1, 2016 through June 28, 2016. Each letter of credit issued under the letter of credit facility must have an expiration date no later than the second anniversary of the issuance of that letter of credit, provided that up to 15% of the outstanding value of the letters of credit may have an expiration date of between two and three years from the date of issuance.
As of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, letters of credit issued under the August 2011 letter of credit facility with Deutsche Bank totaled $758.9 million and $725.3 million, respectively.
September 2011 Letter of Credit Facility with Deutsche Bank Trust
On September 27, 2011, the Company entered into a letter of credit facility with Deutsche Bank Trust which provides for the issuance, upon request by the Company, of letters of credit to support obligations of the Company in an aggregate amount not to exceed $200.0 million. Each letter of credit issued under the facility is fully cash-collateralized and the Company has entered into a security agreement with Deutsche Bank Trust, granting them a security interest in a cash collateral account established for this purpose.
As of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, letters of credit issued under the Deutsche Bank Trust facility amounted to $2.0 million and $17.5 million, respectively, which were fully collateralized with restricted cash on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Foreign_Currency_Derivatives

Foreign Currency Derivatives	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Foreign Currency Derivatives [Text Block]	'
	FOREIGN CURRENCY DERIVATIVES
	The Company has non-U.S. subsidiaries that operate and sell the Company's products in various global markets, primarily in Europe. As a result, the Company is exposed to risks associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates. It is the Company's policy to use various techniques, including entering into foreign currency derivative instruments, to manage the exposures associated with forecasted revenues, purchases of foreign sourced equipment and non-U.S. dollar denominated monetary assets and liabilities. The Company does not enter into foreign currency derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes.
	The Company is required to recognize derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value in its Balance Sheets. It is the Company's policy to present all derivative fair value amounts gross on its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets regardless of legal right of offset. The Company utilizes the income approach and mid-market pricing to calculate the fair value of its option and forward contracts based on market volatilities, spot and forward rates, interest rates, and credit default swaps rates from published sources. The following table presents information about the Company's hedge instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, all of which utilize Level 2 inputs under the fair value hierarchy:
	(In thousands)	Balance Sheet Classification		September 29, 2013				December 30, 2012
	Assets
	Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
	Foreign currency option contracts	Prepaid expenses and other current assets		$	627			$	519
	Foreign currency option contracts	Other long-term assets		384				—
				$	1,011			$	519
	Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
	Foreign currency option contracts	Prepaid expenses and other current assets		$	73			$	25
	Foreign currency forward exchange contracts	Prepaid expenses and other current assets		1,498				731
				$	1,571			$	756
	Liabilities
	Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
	Foreign currency option contracts	Accrued liabilities		$	974			$	387
	Foreign currency forward exchange contracts	Accrued liabilities		498				23
	Foreign currency option contracts	Other long-term liabilities		495				—
				$	1,967			$	410
	Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
	Foreign currency option contracts	Accrued liabilities		$	79			$	26
	Foreign currency forward exchange contracts	Accrued liabilities		5,699				4,455
				$	5,778			$	4,481
	Valuations are based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, directly or indirectly. The selection of a particular technique to value an over-the-counter ("OTC") foreign currency derivative depends upon the contractual term of, and specific risks inherent with, the instrument as well as the availability of pricing information in the market. The Company generally uses similar techniques to value similar instruments. Valuation techniques utilize a variety of inputs, including contractual terms, market prices, yield curves, credit curves and measures of volatility. For OTC foreign currency derivatives that trade in liquid markets, such as generic forward and option contracts, inputs can generally be verified and selections do not involve significant management judgment.
	The following table summarizes the pre-tax amount of unrealized gain or loss recognized in "Accumulated other comprehensive income" ("OCI") in "Stockholders' equity" in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:
		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
	(In thousands)	September 29, 2013				September 30, 2012				September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
	Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:
	Gain (loss) in Accumulated OCI at the beginning of the period	$	1,238			$	2,346			$	(243	)	$	10,473
	Unrealized gain (loss) recognized in OCI (effective portion)	(1,454		)		(253		)		550			(1,386		)
	Less: Gain reclassified from Accumulated OCI to revenue (effective portion)	(551		)		(2,358		)		(1,074		)	(9,352		)
	Net loss on derivatives	$	(2,005	)		$	(2,611	)		$	(524	)	$	(10,738	)
	Loss in Accumulated OCI at the end of the period	$	(767	)		$	(265	)		$	(767	)	$	(265	)
	The following table summarizes the amount of gain or loss recognized in "Other, net" in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations in the three and nine months ended September 29, 2013 and September 30, 2012:
		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
	(In thousands)	September 29, 2013				September 30, 2012				September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
	Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:
	Loss recognized in "Other, net" on derivatives (ineffective portion and amount excluded from effectiveness testing)	$	(1,620	)		$	(749	)		$	(2,123	)	$	(1,176	)
	Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
	Gain (loss) recognized in "Other, net"	$	(1,950	)		$	520			$	(5,103	)	$	6,824
	Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
	Designated Derivatives Hedging Cash Flow Exposure
	The Company's cash flow exposure primarily relates to anticipated third party foreign currency revenues and expenses. To protect financial performance, the Company enters into foreign currency forward and option contracts designated as cash flow hedges to hedge certain forecasted revenue transactions denominated in currencies other than their functional currencies.
	As of September 29, 2013, the Company had designated outstanding cash flow hedge option contracts and forward contracts with an aggregate notional value of $117.5 million and $72.4 million, respectively. As of December 30, 2012, the Company had designated outstanding cash flow hedge option contracts and forward contracts with an aggregate notional value of $71.0 million and $26.4 million, respectively. The Company designates either gross external or intercompany revenue up to its net economic exposure. These derivatives have a maturity of 15 months or less and consist of foreign currency option and forward contracts. The effective portion of these cash flow hedges are reclassified into revenue when third party revenue is recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
	The Company expects to reclassify the majority of its net gains or losses related to these option and forward contracts that are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss as of September 29, 2013 to revenue in the next 12 months. The Company uses the spot to spot method to measure the effectiveness of its cash flow hedges. Under this method for each reporting period, the change in fair value of the forward contracts attributable to the changes in spot exchange rates (the effective portion) is reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on its consolidated balance sheet and the remaining change in fair value of the forward contract (the excluded and the ineffective portions, if any) is recognized in other income (expense), net, in its Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. The premium paid or time value of an option on the date of purchase is recorded as an asset in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Thereafter, any change in value related to time value is included in "Other, net" in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
	Under cash flow hedge accounting rules for foreign currency derivatives, the Company reflects the effective gains and losses on its hedged transactions in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and will subsequently reclassify amounts into earnings when the hedged transactions occur. If the Company determines that the anticipated hedged transactions are probable not to occur, the corresponding amounts in OCI would be reclassified into its Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. During the three and nine months ended September 29, 2013, the Company determined that all its anticipated hedged transactions were probable to occur.
	Non-Designated Derivatives Hedging Transaction Exposure
	Other derivatives not designated as hedging instruments consist of forward and option contracts used to hedge re-measurement of foreign currency denominated monetary assets and liabilities primarily for intercompany transactions, receivables from customers, and payables to third parties. Changes in exchange rates between the Company's subsidiaries' functional currencies and the currencies in which these assets and liabilities are denominated can create fluctuations in the Company's reported consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. The Company enters into forward contracts, which are originally designated as cash flow hedges, and de-designates them upon recognition of the anticipated transaction to protect resulting non-functional currency monetary assets. These forward contracts as well as additional forward contracts are entered into to hedge foreign currency denominated monetary assets and liabilities against the short-term effects of currency exchange rate fluctuations. The Company records its derivative contracts that are not designated as hedging instruments at fair value with the related gains or losses recorded in "Other, net" in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The gains or losses on these contracts are substantially offset by transaction gains or losses on the underlying balances being hedged. As of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, the Company held forward contracts with an aggregate notional value of $106.4 million and $121.8 million, respectively, and option contracts with an aggregate notional value of $20.7 million and zero, respectively, to hedge balance sheet exposure. The maturity dates of these contracts range from October 2013 to January 2014.
	Credit Risk
	The Company's option and forward contracts do not contain any credit-risk-related contingent features. The Company is exposed to credit losses in the event of nonperformance by the counterparties of its option and forward contracts. The Company enters into derivative contracts with high-quality financial institutions and limits the amount of credit exposure to any single counterparty. In addition, the derivative contracts are limited to a time period of 15 months or less and the Company continuously evaluates the credit standing of its counterparties.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes [Text Block]	'
	INCOME TAXES
	In the three and nine months ended September 29, 2013, the Company's income tax benefit of $4.6 million and income tax provision of $2.9 million, respectively, on income before income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated investees of $81.2 million and $30.3 million, respectively, was primarily due to projected tax expense in profitable foreign jurisdictions as well as minimum taxes and the recognition of a previously unrecognized tax benefit. In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company's income tax provision was $0.6 million and $12.5 million, respectively, on a loss before income taxes and equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated investees of $48.5 million and $192.9 million, respectively, was primarily due to projected tax expense in profitable foreign jurisdictions and a change in the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets.

Net_Loss_Per_Share_of_Common_S

Net Loss Per Share of Common Stock	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Earnings Per Share [Text Block]	'
	NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK
	The Company calculates net income (loss) per share by dividing earnings allocated to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period.
	Diluted weighted average shares is computed using basic weighted average shares plus any potentially dilutive securities outstanding during the period using the treasury-stock-type method and the if-converted method, except when their effect is anti-dilutive. Potentially dilutive securities include stock options, restricted stock units, senior convertible debentures, amended warrants associated with the CSO2015, and the Upfront Warrants held by Total.
	The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per share:
			Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)		September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012			September 29, 2013		September 30, 2012
	Basic net income (loss) per share:
	Numerator
	Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders		$	108,386		$	(48,538	)	$	73,255	$	(207,249	)
	Denominator
	Basic weighted-average common shares		121,314			118,952			120,604		116,408
	Basic net income (loss) per share		$	0.89		$	(0.41	)	$	0.61	$	(1.78	)
	Diluted net income (loss) per share:
	Numerator
	Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders		$	108,386		$	(48,538	)	$	73,255	$	(207,249	)
	Add: Interest expense incurred on the 0.75% debentures due 2018, net of tax		551			—			744		—
	Add: Interest expense incurred on the 4.75% debentures due 2014, net of tax		2,677			—			—		—
	Net income (loss) available to common stockholders		$	111,614		$	(48,538	)	$	73,999	$	(207,249	)
	Denominator
	Basic weighted-average common shares		121,314			118,952			120,604		116,408
	Effect of dilutive securities:
	Stock options		119			—			106		—
	Restricted stock units		5,328			—			4,302		—
	Upfront Warrants (held by Total)		6,377			—			4,429		—
	0.75% debentures due 2018		12,026			—			5,418		—
	4.75% debentures due 2014		8,712			—			—		—
	Dilutive weighted-average common shares		153,876			118,952			134,859		116,408
	Dilutive net income (loss) per share		$	0.73		$	(0.41	)	$	0.55	$	(1.78	)
	The Upfront Warrants, issued on February 28, 2012, allow Total to acquire up to 9,531,677 shares of the Company's common stock at an exercise price of $7.8685. If the market price per share of the Company's common stock for the period exceeds the established strike price, the Upfront Warrants will have a dilutive effect on its diluted net income per share using the treasury-stock-type method.
	Holders of the amended and restated Warrants under the CSO2015, upon exercise of the 4.50% Warrants, may acquire up to 11.1 million shares of the Company's common stock at an exercise price of $24.00. If the market price per share of the Company's common stock for the period exceeds the established strike price, the 4.50% Warrants will have a dilutive effect on its diluted net income per share using the treasury-stock-type method.
	Holders of the Company's 0.75% debentures due 2018 and the 4.75% debentures due 2014 may convert the debentures into shares of the Company's common stock, at the applicable conversion rate, at any time on or prior to maturity. These debentures are included in the calculation of diluted net income per share if their inclusion is dilutive under the if-converted method.
	Holders of the Company's 4.50% debentures due 2015 may, under certain circumstances at their option, convert the debentures into cash, and not into shares of the Company's common stock (or any other securities). Therefore, the 4.50% debentures due 2015 are excluded from the net income per share calculation.
	The following is a summary of outstanding anti-dilutive potential common stock which was excluded from income (loss) per diluted share in the following periods:
			Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	(In thousands)		29-Sep-13		September 30, 20121			29-Sep-13		September 30, 20121
	Stock options		184		334			205		377
	Restricted stock units		1,537		8,829			2,047		6,904
	Upfront Warrants (held by Total)		—		*			—		*
	Warrants (under the CSO2015)		*		*			*		*
	0.75% debentures due 2018		—		n/a			—		n/a
	4.75% debentures due 2014		—		8,712			8,712		8,712
	1	As a result of the net loss per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, the inclusion of all potentially dilutive stock options, restricted stock units, and common shares under noted warrants and convertible debt would be anti-dilutive. Therefore, those stock options, restricted stock units and shares were excluded from the computation of the weighted-average shares for diluted net loss per share for such period.
	* The Company's average stock price during the period did not exceed the conversion price for the related warrants.

StockBased_Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block]	'
	STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
	The following table summarizes the consolidated stock-based compensation expense by line item in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations:
		Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	(In thousands)	September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012		September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
	Cost of Americas revenue	$	1,295		$	1,590	$	3,209		$	4,745
	Cost of EMEA revenue	803			795		1,862			3,158
	Cost of APAC revenue	827			368		2,081			1,125
	Research and development	1,390			1,045		3,737			3,920
	Sales, general and administrative	7,767			5,473		20,214			20,231
	Total stock-based compensation expense	$	12,082		$	9,271	$	31,103		$	33,179
	The following table summarizes the consolidated stock-based compensation expense by type of awards:
		Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	(In thousands)	September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012		September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
	Employee stock options	$	—		$	35	$	—		$	638
	Restricted stock units	12,402			8,969		31,599			32,411
	Change in stock-based compensation capitalized in inventory	(320		)	267		(496		)	130
	Total stock-based compensation expense	$	12,082		$	9,271	$	31,103		$	33,179

Segment_Information

Segment Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment and Geographical Information [Text Block]	'
	SEGMENT INFORMATION
	The Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, as the CODM, has organized the Company, manages resource allocations and measures performance of the Company's activities among three regional segments: (i) the Americas Segment, (ii) the EMEA Segment, and (iii) the APAC Segment. The Americas Segment includes both North and South America. The EMEA Segment includes European countries, as well as the Middle East and Africa. The APAC segment includes all Asia-Pacific countries.
	The CODM assesses the performance of the three regional segments using information about their revenue and gross margin after certain adjustments to reflect the substance of the revenue transactions for certain utility and power plant projects, and adding back certain non-cash expenses such as stock-based compensation expense and interest expense, as well as other items including gain on contract termination, loss on change in European government incentives, accelerated depreciation associated with the Company's manufacturing step reduction program, and amortization of other intangible assets. The CODM does not review asset information by segment.
	The following tables present information by segment, including revenue, cost of revenue, gross margin, and depreciation. Revenue is based on the destination of the shipments.
			Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
	(In thousands):		September 29, 2013				September 30, 2012				29-Sep-13				30-Sep-12
	Revenue
	Americas		$	442,091			$	502,373			$	1,293,822			$	1,176,148
	EMEA		120,712				88,547				296,374				400,074
	APAC		94,317				58,028				278,873				162,754
	Total Revenue		657,120				648,948				1,869,069				1,738,976
	Cost of revenue
	Americas		306,024				409,432				1,008,044				978,062
	EMEA		100,605				111,622				289,495				422,922
	APAC		57,261				47,121				211,126				138,471
	Total cost of revenue		463,890				568,175				1,508,665				1,539,455
	Gross margin		$	193,230			$	80,773			$	360,404			$	199,521
			Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
			September 29, 2013				September 30, 2012				September 29, 2013				September 30, 2012
	Revenue by region (in thousands):
	Americas (as reviewed by CODM)		$	404,422			$	460,105			$	1,269,552			$	1,274,907
	Utility and power plant projects		37,669				42,268				24,270				(98,759		)
	Americas		$	442,091			$	502,373			$	1,293,822			$	1,176,148
	EMEA (as reviewed by CODM)		$	120,712			$	88,547			$	296,374			$	399,881
	Other		—				—				—				193
	EMEA		$	120,712			$	88,547			$	296,374			$	400,074
	APAC (as reviewed by CODM)		$	94,317			$	58,028			$	278,201			$	162,754
	Other		—				—				672				—
	APAC		$	94,317			$	58,028			$	278,873			$	162,754
	Cost of revenue by region (in thousands):
	Americas (as reviewed by CODM)		$	318,654			$	367,067			$	946,967			$	1,035,870
	Utility and power plant projects		11,346				36,453				82,227				(73,890		)
	Stock-based compensation expense		1,295				1,589				3,209				4,743
	Non-cash interest expense		291				308				802				731
	Gain on contract termination		(25,604		)		—				(25,604		)		—
	Other		42				4,015				443				10,608
	Americas		$	306,024			$	409,432			$	1,008,044			$	978,062
	EMEA (as reviewed by CODM)		$	109,090			$	108,515			$	296,474			$	410,532
	Stock-based compensation expense		803				795				1,862				3,158
	Non-cash interest expense		107				112				368				425
	Gain on contract termination		(9,395		)		—				(9,395		)		—
	Other		—				2,200				186				8,807
	EMEA		$	100,605			$	111,622			$	289,495			$	422,922
	APAC (as reviewed by CODM)		$	73,229			$	45,634			$	225,233			$	134,106
	Stock-based compensation expense		827				368				2,081				1,125
	Non-cash interest expense		193				81				542				190
	Gain on contract termination		(16,988		)		—				(16,988		)		—
	Other		—				1,038				258				3,050
	APAC		$	57,261			$	47,121			$	211,126			$	138,471
	Gross margin by region:
	Americas (as reviewed by CODM)		21	%		20	%		25	%		19	%
	EMEA (as reviewed by CODM)		10	%		(23	)%		—	%		(3	)%
	APAC (as reviewed by CODM)		22	%		21	%		19	%		18	%
	Americas		31	%		19	%		22	%		17	%
	EMEA		17	%		(26	)%		2	%		(6	)%
	APAC		39	%		19	%		24	%		15	%
			Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
	Depreciation by region (in thousands):		29-Sep-13				30-Sep-12				29-Sep-13				30-Sep-12
	Americas		$	10,987			$	14,931			$	32,725			$	44,564
	EMEA		6,429				5,510				17,944				26,835
	APAC		7,306				3,944				22,224				11,348
				Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	(As a percentage of total revenue):			29-Sep-13			30-Sep-12			29-Sep-13			30-Sep-12
Significant Customers:	Business Segment
NRG Solar, Inc.	Americas		*			46	%		23	%		32	%
MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company	Americas		33	%		*			21	%		*
* denotes less than 10% during the period
		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
Revenue by Significant Category (in thousands):		29-Sep-13				30-Sep-12				29-Sep-13				30-Sep-12
Solar power products		$	223,952			$	211,157			$	648,235			$	764,942
Solar power systems1		378,477				400,757				1,083,002				886,755
Residential leases		31,575				15,662				95,498				50,302
Other revenue2		23,116				21,372				42,334				36,977
		$	657,120			$	648,948			$	1,869,069			$	1,738,976
1	Solar power systems represents revenue recognized in connection with our construction and development contracts.
2	Other revenue includes revenue related to our solar power services and solutions, such as post-installation systems monitoring and maintenance in connection with construction contracts, and commercial PPA agreements.

The_Company_and_Summary_of_Sig1

The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Principles of Consolidation [Policy Text Block]	'
	Principles of Consolidation
	The condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("United States" or "U.S.") and include the accounts of the Company, all of its subsidiaries and special purpose entities, as appropriate under consolidation accounting guidelines. Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The assets of the special purpose entities that the Company sets up related to project financing for customers are not designed to be available to service the general liabilities and obligations of the Company in certain circumstances.
Comparability of Prior Year Financial Data, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Reclassifications
	Certain prior period balances have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation in the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. Such reclassifications had no effect on previously reported results of operations or retained earnings. As reflected in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2012 ("2012 Form 10-K"), in connection with the growth of its residential lease program, during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 the Company began to separately classify both the cost of the leased assets and related investing cash flows based upon the nature of the lease entered into. The Company has reclassified prior period interim balances to conform to the current period presentation, which resulted in an increase in operating cash flows of $100.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.
Fiscal Years [Policy Text Block]	'
	Fiscal Years
	The Company has a 52-to-53-week fiscal year that ends on the Sunday closest to December 31. Accordingly, every fifth or sixth year will be a 53-week fiscal year. Both fiscal 2013 and 2012 are 52-week fiscal years. The third quarter of fiscal 2013 ended on September 29, 2013, while the third quarter of fiscal 2012 ended on September 30, 2012. All quarters in fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2012 were 13-week quarters.
Management Estimates [Policy Text Block]	'
	Management Estimates
	The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant estimates in these condensed consolidated financial statements include percentage-of-completion for construction projects; allowances for doubtful accounts receivable and sales returns; inventory and project asset write-downs; stock-based compensation; estimates for future cash flows and economic useful lives of property, plant and equipment and other long-term assets; the fair value and residual value of leased solar power systems; fair value of financial instruments; valuation of certain accrued liabilities including accrued warranty, restructuring, and termination of supply contracts reserves; valuation of debt without the conversion feature; and income taxes and tax valuation allowances. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.
Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Revenue Recognition
	Residential Leases
	The Company offers a solar lease program, in partnership with third-party financial institutions, which allows its residential customers to obtain SunPower systems under lease agreements for terms of up to 20 years. Leases are classified as either operating or sales-type leases in accordance with the relevant accounting guidelines.
	For those systems classified as sales-type leases, the net present value of the minimum lease payments, net of executory costs, is recognized as revenue when the lease is placed in service. This net present value as well as the net present value of the residual value of the lease at termination are recorded as receivables in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The difference between the initial net amounts and the gross amounts are amortized to revenue over the lease term using the interest method. The residual values of our solar systems are determined at the inception of the lease applying an estimated system fair value at the end of the lease term.
	For those systems classified as operating leases, rental revenue is recognized, net of executory costs, on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.
Consolidation, Subsidiaries or Other Investments, Consolidated Entities, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Noncontrolling Interests
	Noncontrolling interests represents the portion of net assets in consolidated subsidiaries that are not attributable, directly or indirectly, to the Company. Beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company has entered into facilities with third-party investors under which the investors are determined to hold noncontrolling interests in entities fully consolidated by the Company. The net assets of the shared entities are attributed to the controlling and noncontrolling interests based on the terms of the governing contractual arrangements. The Company further determined the hypothetical liquidation at book value method ("HLBV Method") to be the appropriate method for attributing net assets to the controlling and noncontrolling interests as this method most closely mirrors the economics of the governing contractual arrangements. Under the HLBV Method, the Company allocates recorded income (loss) to each investor based on the change, during the reporting period, of the amount of net assets each investor is entitled to under the governing contractual arrangements in a liquidation scenario.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Fair value is estimated by applying the following hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value into three levels and bases the categorization within the hierarchy upon the lowest level of input that is available and significant to the fair value measurement (observable inputs are the preferred basis of valuation):
	•	Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
	•	Level 2 — Measurements are inputs that are observable for assets or liabilities, either directly or indirectly, other than quoted prices included within Level 1.
	•	Level 3 — Prices or valuations that require management inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

Balance_Sheet_Components_Table

Balance Sheet Components (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Accounts Receivable Trade [Table Text Block]	'
			As of
	(In thousands)		September 29, 2013			December 30, 2012
	Accounts receivable, net:
	Accounts receivable, gross1		$	407,680		$	429,977
	Less: allowance for doubtful accounts		(27,476		)	(26,773		)
	Less: allowance for sales returns		(2,380		)	(5,054		)
			$	377,824		$	398,150
	1	Includes short-term finance receivables associated with solar power systems leased of $6.0 million and $4.5 million as of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, respectively.
Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block]	'
	Inventories:
	Raw materials		$	79,272		$	89,331
	Work-in-process		47,212			50,627
	Finished goods		161,565			151,428
			$	288,049		$	291,386
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Table Text Block]	'
			As of
	(In thousands)		29-Sep-13			30-Dec-12
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets:
	VAT receivables, current portion		$	99,899		$	97,041
	Foreign currency derivatives		2,198			1,275
	Deferred project costs		172,679			305,980
	Deferred costs for solar power systems to be leased		25,264			31,419
	Other receivables		78,336			104,640
	Other prepaid expenses		28,905			25,230
	Other current assets		46,314			47,468
			$	453,595		$	613,053
	Project assets - plants and land:
	Project assets — plants		$	91,911		$	61,862
	Project assets — land		9,653			21,645
			$	101,564		$	83,507
	Project assets - plants and land, current portion		$	98,005		$	75,911
	Project assets - plants and land, net of current portion		$	3,559		$	7,596
Investments In Power And Distribution Projects [Table Text Block]	'
	Project assets - plants and land:
	Project assets — plants		$	91,911		$	61,862
	Project assets — land		9,653			21,645
			$	101,564		$	83,507
	Project assets - plants and land, current portion		$	98,005		$	75,911
	Project assets - plants and land, net of current portion		$	3,559		$	7,596
Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]	'
	Property, plant and equipment, net:
	Land and buildings		$	26,080		$	20,109
	Leasehold improvements		229,817			221,378
	Manufacturing equipment2		545,174			531,289
	Computer equipment		77,087			75,438
	Furniture and fixtures		8,262			8,178
	Solar power systems3		54,585			12,501
	Solar power systems leased		290,388			163,003
	Solar power systems to be leased		52,936			89,423
	Construction-in-process		9,001			34,110
			1,293,330			1,155,429
	Less: accumulated depreciation		(441,986		)	(380,520		)
			$	851,344		$	774,909
	2	The Company's mortgage loan agreement with International Finance Corporation ("IFC") is collateralized by certain manufacturing equipment with a net book value of $153.5 million and $152.9 million as of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, respectively. The Company also provided security for advance payments received from a third-party supplier in the form of collateralized manufacturing equipment with a net book value of $16.5 million as of December 30, 2012.
	3	Includes $25.3 million of solar power systems associated with sale-leaseback transactions under the financing method as of September 29, 2013 (see Note 7).
Schedule of Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets in Individual Foreign Countries by Country [Table Text Block]	'
	Property, plant and equipment, net by geography4:
	Philippines		$	333,959		$	367,708
	United States		458,825			343,710
	Mexico		32,377			32,409
	Europe		25,681			29,292
	Other		502			1,790
			$	851,344		$	774,909
	4	Property, plant and equipment, net are based on the physical location of the assets.
Interest expense [Table Text Block]	'
	The table below presents the cash and non-cash interest expense capitalized to property, plant and equipment and project assets during the three and nine months ended September 29, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively.
			Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	(In thousands)		September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012			September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
	Interest expense:
	Interest cost incurred		$	(29,075	)	$	(26,912	)	$	(81,827	)	$	(66,899	)
	Cash interest cost capitalized - property, plant and equipment		39			272			267			859
	Non-cash interest cost capitalized - property, plant and equipment		—			142			57			444
	Cash interest cost capitalized - project assets - plant and land		96			395			395			944
	Non-cash interest cost capitalized - project assets - plant and land		79			269			343			717
	Interest expense		$	(28,861	)	$	(25,834	)	$	(80,765	)	$	(63,935	)
Schedule of Other Assets, Noncurrent [Table Text Block]	'
			As of
	(In thousands)		September 29, 2013			December 30, 2012
	Other long-term assets:
	Equity method investments		$	113,778		$	111,516
	Bond hedge derivative		96,635			2,327
	Cost method investments		12,374			14,918
	Long-term financing receivables		139,177			67,742
	Long-term debt issuance costs		18,153			38,185
	Other		113,608			41,375
			$	493,725		$	276,063
Schedule of Accrued Liabilities [Table Text Block]	'
	Accrued liabilities:
	VAT payables		$	5,456		$	2,049
	Foreign currency derivatives		7,250			4,891
	Short-term warranty reserves		9,468			9,054
	Interest payable		10,840			9,672
	Deferred revenue		25,521			32,507
	Employee compensation and employee benefits		48,024			40,750
	Restructuring reserve		11,935			29,477
	Short-term residential lease financing		28,471			25,153
	Other		109,489			93,819
			$	256,454		$	247,372
Other liabilities [Table Text Block]	'
			As of
	(In thousands)		29-Sep-13			30-Dec-12
	Other long-term liabilities:
	Embedded conversion option derivatives		$	96,665		$	2,327
	Long-term warranty reserves		125,307			107,803
	Deferred revenue		157,395			128,936
	Unrecognized tax benefits		25,193			35,022
	Long-term residential lease financing		28,788			11,411
	Long-term sale-leaseback financing (Note 7)		36,575			—
	Other		50,337			50,120
			$	520,260		$	335,619
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]	'
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
	Cumulative translation adjustment		$	(4,322	)	$	(2,319	)
	Net unrealized loss on derivatives		(767		)	(243		)
	Deferred taxes		141			41
			$	(4,948	)	$	(2,521	)

Fair_Value_Measurements_Fair_V

Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table summarizes the Company's assets and liabilities measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, respectively:
			29-Sep-13							December 30, 2012
	(In thousands)		Total			Level 1		Level 2		Total		Level 1		Level 2
	Assets
	Cash and cash equivalents:
	Money market funds1		$	308,001		$	308,001	$	—	$	117,254	$	117,254	$	—
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets:
	Foreign currency derivatives (Note 10)		2,198			—		2,198		1,275		—		1,275
	Other long-term assets:
	Debt derivatives (Note 9)		96,635			—		96,635		2,327		—		2,327
	Foreign currency derivatives (Note 10)		384			—		384		—		—		—
	Total assets		$	407,218		$	308,001	$	99,217	$	120,856	$	117,254	$	3,602
	Liabilities
	Accrued liabilities:
	Foreign currency derivatives (Note 10)		$	7,250		$	—	$	7,250	$	4,891	$	—	$	4,891
	Other long-term liabilities:
	Debt derivatives (Note 9)		96,665			—		96,665		2,327		—		2,327
	Foreign currency derivatives (Note 10)		495			—		495		—		—		—
	Total liabilities		$	104,410		$	—	$	104,410	$	7,218	$	—	$	7,218
	1	The Company's cash equivalents consist of money market fund instruments which are classified as available-for-sale and within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices for identical instruments in active markets.
Fair Value, Measurement Inputs, Disclosure [Table Text Block]	'
	The fair values of these derivative instruments were determined utilizing the following Level 1 and Level 2 inputs:
		As of
		September 29, 20131			December 30, 20121
	Stock price	$	26.17		$	5.49
	Exercise price	$	22.53		$	22.53
	Interest rate	0.37		%	0.4		%
	Stock volatility	59.6		%	59.9		%
	Credit risk adjustment	1.04		%	1.07		%
	Maturity date	18-Feb-15			18-Feb-15
	1	The valuation model utilizes these inputs to value the right but not the obligation to purchase one share at $22.53. The Company utilized a Black-Scholes valuation model to value the 4.50% Bond Hedge and embedded cash conversion option. The underlying input assumptions were determined as follows:
	(i)	Stock price. The closing price of the Company's common stock on the last trading day of the quarter.
	(ii)	Exercise price. The exercise price of the 4.50% Bond Hedge and the embedded cash conversion option.
	(iii)	Interest rate. The Treasury Strip rate associated with the life of the 4.50% Bond Hedge and the embedded cash conversion option.
	(iv)	Stock volatility. The volatility of the Company's common stock over the life of the 4.50% Bond Hedge and the embedded cash conversion option.
	(v)	Credit risk adjustment. Represents the weighted average of the credit default swap rate of the counterparties.

Restructuring_Tables

Restructuring (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Restructuring and Related Costs [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table summarizes the restructuring charges recognized in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations:
			Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended					Cumulative To Date
			September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012			September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
	October 2012 Plan:
	Severance and benefits		$	42		$	—		$	(1,779	)	$	—	$	27,274
	Lease and related termination costs		(162		)	—			(89		)	—		625
	Other costs		176			—			1,091			—		1,551
			56			—			(777		)	—		29,450
	Legacy Restructuring Plans:
	Non-cash impairment charges		595			9,965			595			53,371		60,748
	Severance and benefits		394			(110		)	394			1,345		20,230
	Lease and related termination costs		26			(1,481		)	1,363			2,849		5,569
	Other costs		43			2,170			130			3,624		7,934
			1,058			10,544			2,482			61,189		94,481
	Total restructuring charges		$	1,114		$	10,544		$	1,705		$	61,189	$	123,931
Schedule of Restructuring Reserve by Type of Cost [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table summarizes the restructuring reserve activity during the nine months ended September 29, 2013:
			Nine Months Ended
	(In thousands)		December 30, 2012			Charges (Benefits)			Payments			September 29, 2013
	October 2012 Plan:
	Severance and benefits		$	24,439		$	(1,779	)	$	(14,676	)	$	7,984
	Lease and related termination costs		714			(89		)	(320		)	305
	Other costs1		358			1,091			(1,343		)	106
	Legacy Restructuring Plans:
	Severance and benefits		60			394			(41		)	413
	Lease and related termination costs		2,436			1,363			(1,452		)	2,347
	Other costs1		1,470			130			(820		)	780
	Total restructuring liabilities		$	29,477		$	1,110		$	(18,652	)	$	11,935
	1	Other costs primarily represent associated legal services.

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Future Minimum Lease Payments [Table Text Block]	'
	As of September 29, 2013, future minimum obligations under non-cancellable capital and operating leases are as follows:
			Capital Lease			Operating Lease
	(In thousands)		Amount			Amount
	Year
	2013 (remaining three months)		$	259		$	6,085
	2014		1,056			15,327
	2015		1,012			14,441
	2016		993			13,894
	2017		947			12,290
	Thereafter		2,449			85,386
			$	6,716		$	147,423
Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligations Disclosure [Table Text Block]	'
	Future purchase obligations under non-cancellable purchase orders and long-term supply agreements as of September 29, 2013 are as follows:
	(In thousands)		Amount1
	Year
	2013 (remaining three months)		$	591,486
	2014		523,887
	2015		370,463
	2016		334,105
	2017		194,512
	Thereafter		516,979
			$	2,531,432
	Non-cancellable purchase orders		$	249,019
	Long-term supply agreements		$	2,282,413
	1	Total future purchase obligations as of September 29, 2013 include $137.7 million to related parties.
Advance to Supplier Obligations [Table Text Block]	'
	The Company's future prepayment obligations as of September 29, 2013 are as follows:
	(In thousands)		Amount
	Year
	2013 (remaining three months)		$	39,475
	2014		65,791
			$	105,266
Schedule of Estimated Utilization of Advances From Customers [Table Text Block]	'
	The estimated utilization of advances from customers as of September 29, 2013 is as follows:
	(In thousands)		Amount
	Year
	2013 (remaining three months)		$	17,980
	2014		30,512
	2015		18,387
	2016		22,713
	2017		27,039
	Thereafter		99,144
			$	215,775
Schedule of Product Warranty Liability [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table summarizes accrued warranty activity for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively:
			Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	(In thousands)		September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012			September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
	Balance at the beginning of the period		$	126,293		$	104,439		$	117,172		$	94,323
	Accruals for warranties issued during the period		9,643			7,387			21,995			20,692
	Settlements made during the period		(1,161		)	(2,174		)	(4,392		)	(5,363		)
	Balance at the end of the period		$	134,775		$	109,652		$	134,775		$	109,652
Future financing obligations [Table Text Block]	'
	The Company's future financing obligations related to these agreements as of September 29, 2013 are as follows:
	(In thousands)		Amount
	Year
	2013 (remaining three months)		$	147,120
	2014		96,770
			$	243,890

Equity_Method_Investments_Tabl

Equity Method Investments (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]	'
Related Party Transactions with Equity Method Investees [Table Text Block]	'
	Related Party Transactions with Equity Method Investees:
		As of
	(In thousands)	September 29, 2013		30-Dec-12
	Accounts receivable	$	10,304	$	17,847
	Accounts payable	48,080		63,469
	Other long-term assets:
	Long-term note receivable	1,863		1,040
		Three Months Ended				Nine months Ended
	(In thousands)	September 29, 2013		September 30, 2012		September 29, 2013		September 30, 2012
	Payments made to equity method investees for products/services	$	112,416	$	123,112	$	338,495	$	452,379

Debt_and_Credit_Sources_Tables

Debt and Credit Sources (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Schedule of Maturities of Debt [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table summarizes the Company's outstanding debt as of September 29, 2013 and the related maturity dates:
					Payments Due by Period
	(In thousands)		Face Value		2013 (remaining three months)		2014		2015		2016		2017		Beyond 2017
	Convertible debt:
	0.75% debentures due 2018		$	300,000	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	300,000
	4.50% debentures due 2015		250,000		—		—		250,000		—		—		—
	4.75% debentures due 2014		230,000		—		230,000		—		—		—		—
	0.75% debentures due 2015		79		—		—		79		—		—		—
	IFC mortgage loan		62,500		—		15,000		15,000		15,000		15,000		2,500
	CEDA loan		30,000		—		—		—		—		—		30,000
	Other debt1		70,783		30,027		31,077		582		567		548		7,982
			$	943,362	$	30,027	$	276,077	$	265,661	$	15,567	$	15,548	$	340,482
	1	The balance of Other debt excludes payments related to capital leases which are disclosed in Note 7. "Commitments and Contingencies" to these condensed consolidated financial statements.
Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table summarizes the Company's outstanding convertible debt:
			September 29, 2013						December 30, 2012
	(In thousands)		Carrying Value		Face Value		Fair Value1		Carrying Value		Face Value		Fair Value1
	Convertible debt:
	0.75% debentures due 2018		$	300,000	$	300,000	$	354,303	$	—	$	—	$	—
	4.50% debentures due 2015		221,293		250,000		328,815		208,550		250,000		228,750
	4.75% debentures due 2014		230,000		230,000		263,127		230,000		230,000		218,960
	0.75% debentures due 2015		79		79		74		79		79		79
			$	751,372	$	780,079	$	946,319	$	438,629	$	480,079	$	447,789
	1	The fair value of the convertible debt was determined using Level 1 inputs based on quarterly market prices as reported by an independent pricing source.
	The Company's outstanding convertible debentures are senior, unsecured obligations of the Company, ranking equally with all existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness of the Company.
IFC Mortgage Loan [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Schedule of Debt [Table Text Block]	'
	The Company's outstanding borrowings under the mortgage loan agreement with IFC on its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows:
			As of
	(In thousands)		September 29, 2013		December 30, 2012
	Short-term debt		$	15,000	$	12,500
	Long-term debt		47,500		62,500
			$	62,500	$	75,000
CEDA Loan [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Schedule of Debt [Table Text Block]	'
	The Company's outstanding borrowings under the loan agreement with CEDA on its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets is as follows:
			As of
	(In thousands)		September 29, 2013		December 30, 2012
	Long-term debt		$	30,000	$	30,000
Credit Agricole Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Schedule of Debt [Table Text Block]	'
	The Company's outstanding borrowings under the September 2011 revolving credit facility on its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets is as follows:
			As of
	(In thousands)		September 29, 2013		December 30, 2012
	Long-term debt		$	—	$	275,000
Other Debt Obligations [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Schedule of Debt [Table Text Block]	'
	The Company's other outstanding borrowings on its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows:
			As of
	(In thousands)		September 29, 2013		December 30, 2012
	Short-term debt		$	60,855	$	134
	Long-term debt		9,928		1,234
			$	70,783	$	1,368

Foreign_Currency_Derivatives_T

Foreign Currency Derivatives (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Derivative Instruments in Statement of Financial Position, Fair Value [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table presents information about the Company's hedge instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, all of which utilize Level 2 inputs under the fair value hierarchy:
	(In thousands)	Balance Sheet Classification		September 29, 2013				December 30, 2012
	Assets
	Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
	Foreign currency option contracts	Prepaid expenses and other current assets		$	627			$	519
	Foreign currency option contracts	Other long-term assets		384				—
				$	1,011			$	519
	Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
	Foreign currency option contracts	Prepaid expenses and other current assets		$	73			$	25
	Foreign currency forward exchange contracts	Prepaid expenses and other current assets		1,498				731
				$	1,571			$	756
	Liabilities
	Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
	Foreign currency option contracts	Accrued liabilities		$	974			$	387
	Foreign currency forward exchange contracts	Accrued liabilities		498				23
	Foreign currency option contracts	Other long-term liabilities		495				—
				$	1,967			$	410
	Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
	Foreign currency option contracts	Accrued liabilities		$	79			$	26
	Foreign currency forward exchange contracts	Accrued liabilities		5,699				4,455
				$	5,778			$	4,481
Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Effect on Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table summarizes the pre-tax amount of unrealized gain or loss recognized in "Accumulated other comprehensive income" ("OCI") in "Stockholders' equity" in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:
		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
	(In thousands)	September 29, 2013				September 30, 2012				September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
	Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:
	Gain (loss) in Accumulated OCI at the beginning of the period	$	1,238			$	2,346			$	(243	)	$	10,473
	Unrealized gain (loss) recognized in OCI (effective portion)	(1,454		)		(253		)		550			(1,386		)
	Less: Gain reclassified from Accumulated OCI to revenue (effective portion)	(551		)		(2,358		)		(1,074		)	(9,352		)
	Net loss on derivatives	$	(2,005	)		$	(2,611	)		$	(524	)	$	(10,738	)
	Loss in Accumulated OCI at the end of the period	$	(767	)		$	(265	)		$	(767	)	$	(265	)
Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) in Statement of Financial Performance [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table summarizes the amount of gain or loss recognized in "Other, net" in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations in the three and nine months ended September 29, 2013 and September 30, 2012:
		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
	(In thousands)	September 29, 2013				September 30, 2012				September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
	Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:
	Loss recognized in "Other, net" on derivatives (ineffective portion and amount excluded from effectiveness testing)	$	(1,620	)		$	(749	)		$	(2,123	)	$	(1,176	)
	Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
	Gain (loss) recognized in "Other, net"	$	(1,950	)		$	520			$	(5,103	)	$	6,824

Net_Loss_Per_Share_of_Common_S1

Net Loss Per Share of Common Stock (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per share:
			Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)		September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012			September 29, 2013		September 30, 2012
	Basic net income (loss) per share:
	Numerator
	Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders		$	108,386		$	(48,538	)	$	73,255	$	(207,249	)
	Denominator
	Basic weighted-average common shares		121,314			118,952			120,604		116,408
	Basic net income (loss) per share		$	0.89		$	(0.41	)	$	0.61	$	(1.78	)
	Diluted net income (loss) per share:
	Numerator
	Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders		$	108,386		$	(48,538	)	$	73,255	$	(207,249	)
	Add: Interest expense incurred on the 0.75% debentures due 2018, net of tax		551			—			744		—
	Add: Interest expense incurred on the 4.75% debentures due 2014, net of tax		2,677			—			—		—
	Net income (loss) available to common stockholders		$	111,614		$	(48,538	)	$	73,999	$	(207,249	)
	Denominator
	Basic weighted-average common shares		121,314			118,952			120,604		116,408
	Effect of dilutive securities:
	Stock options		119			—			106		—
	Restricted stock units		5,328			—			4,302		—
	Upfront Warrants (held by Total)		6,377			—			4,429		—
	0.75% debentures due 2018		12,026			—			5,418		—
	4.75% debentures due 2014		8,712			—			—		—
	Dilutive weighted-average common shares		153,876			118,952			134,859		116,408
	Dilutive net income (loss) per share		$	0.73		$	(0.41	)	$	0.55	$	(1.78	)
Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Table Text Block]	'
	The following is a summary of outstanding anti-dilutive potential common stock which was excluded from income (loss) per diluted share in the following periods:
			Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	(In thousands)		29-Sep-13		September 30, 20121			29-Sep-13		September 30, 20121
	Stock options		184		334			205		377
	Restricted stock units		1,537		8,829			2,047		6,904
	Upfront Warrants (held by Total)		—		*			—		*
	Warrants (under the CSO2015)		*		*			*		*
	0.75% debentures due 2018		—		n/a			—		n/a
	4.75% debentures due 2014		—		8,712			8,712		8,712
	1	As a result of the net loss per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, the inclusion of all potentially dilutive stock options, restricted stock units, and common shares under noted warrants and convertible debt would be anti-dilutive. Therefore, those stock options, restricted stock units and shares were excluded from the computation of the weighted-average shares for diluted net loss per share for such period.
	* The Company's average stock price during the period did not exceed the conversion price for the related warrants.

StockBased_Compensation_Tables

Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table summarizes the consolidated stock-based compensation expense by line item in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations:
		Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	(In thousands)	September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012		September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
	Cost of Americas revenue	$	1,295		$	1,590	$	3,209		$	4,745
	Cost of EMEA revenue	803			795		1,862			3,158
	Cost of APAC revenue	827			368		2,081			1,125
	Research and development	1,390			1,045		3,737			3,920
	Sales, general and administrative	7,767			5,473		20,214			20,231
	Total stock-based compensation expense	$	12,082		$	9,271	$	31,103		$	33,179
Schedule of Compensation Cost for Share-based Payment Arrangements, Allocation of Share-based Compensation Costs by Plan [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table summarizes the consolidated stock-based compensation expense by type of awards:
		Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	(In thousands)	September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012		September 29, 2013			September 30, 2012
	Employee stock options	$	—		$	35	$	—		$	638
	Restricted stock units	12,402			8,969		31,599			32,411
	Change in stock-based compensation capitalized in inventory	(320		)	267		(496		)	130
	Total stock-based compensation expense	$	12,082		$	9,271	$	31,103		$	33,179

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Revenue from External Customers by Products and Services [Table Text Block]	'
			Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
	Revenue by Significant Category (in thousands):		29-Sep-13				30-Sep-12				29-Sep-13				30-Sep-12
	Solar power products		$	223,952			$	211,157			$	648,235			$	764,942
	Solar power systems1		378,477				400,757				1,083,002				886,755
	Residential leases		31,575				15,662				95,498				50,302
	Other revenue2		23,116				21,372				42,334				36,977
			$	657,120			$	648,948			$	1,869,069			$	1,738,976
	1	Solar power systems represents revenue recognized in connection with our construction and development contracts.
	2	Other revenue includes revenue related to our solar power services and solutions, such as post-installation systems monitoring and maintenance in connection with construction contracts, and commercial PPA agreements.
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]	'
			Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
	(In thousands):		September 29, 2013				September 30, 2012				29-Sep-13				30-Sep-12
	Revenue
	Americas		$	442,091			$	502,373			$	1,293,822			$	1,176,148
	EMEA		120,712				88,547				296,374				400,074
	APAC		94,317				58,028				278,873				162,754
	Total Revenue		657,120				648,948				1,869,069				1,738,976
	Cost of revenue
	Americas		306,024				409,432				1,008,044				978,062
	EMEA		100,605				111,622				289,495				422,922
	APAC		57,261				47,121				211,126				138,471
	Total cost of revenue		463,890				568,175				1,508,665				1,539,455
	Gross margin		$	193,230			$	80,773			$	360,404			$	199,521
			Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
			September 29, 2013				September 30, 2012				September 29, 2013				September 30, 2012
	Revenue by region (in thousands):
	Americas (as reviewed by CODM)		$	404,422			$	460,105			$	1,269,552			$	1,274,907
	Utility and power plant projects		37,669				42,268				24,270				(98,759		)
	Americas		$	442,091			$	502,373			$	1,293,822			$	1,176,148
	EMEA (as reviewed by CODM)		$	120,712			$	88,547			$	296,374			$	399,881
	Other		—				—				—				193
	EMEA		$	120,712			$	88,547			$	296,374			$	400,074
	APAC (as reviewed by CODM)		$	94,317			$	58,028			$	278,201			$	162,754
	Other		—				—				672				—
	APAC		$	94,317			$	58,028			$	278,873			$	162,754
	Cost of revenue by region (in thousands):
	Americas (as reviewed by CODM)		$	318,654			$	367,067			$	946,967			$	1,035,870
	Utility and power plant projects		11,346				36,453				82,227				(73,890		)
	Stock-based compensation expense		1,295				1,589				3,209				4,743
	Non-cash interest expense		291				308				802				731
	Gain on contract termination		(25,604		)		—				(25,604		)		—
	Other		42				4,015				443				10,608
	Americas		$	306,024			$	409,432			$	1,008,044			$	978,062
	EMEA (as reviewed by CODM)		$	109,090			$	108,515			$	296,474			$	410,532
	Stock-based compensation expense		803				795				1,862				3,158
	Non-cash interest expense		107				112				368				425
	Gain on contract termination		(9,395		)		—				(9,395		)		—
	Other		—				2,200				186				8,807
	EMEA		$	100,605			$	111,622			$	289,495			$	422,922
	APAC (as reviewed by CODM)		$	73,229			$	45,634			$	225,233			$	134,106
	Stock-based compensation expense		827				368				2,081				1,125
	Non-cash interest expense		193				81				542				190
	Gain on contract termination		(16,988		)		—				(16,988		)		—
	Other		—				1,038				258				3,050
	APAC		$	57,261			$	47,121			$	211,126			$	138,471
	Gross margin by region:
	Americas (as reviewed by CODM)		21	%		20	%		25	%		19	%
	EMEA (as reviewed by CODM)		10	%		(23	)%		—	%		(3	)%
	APAC (as reviewed by CODM)		22	%		21	%		19	%		18	%
	Americas		31	%		19	%		22	%		17	%
	EMEA		17	%		(26	)%		2	%		(6	)%
	APAC		39	%		19	%		24	%		15	%
			Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
	Depreciation by region (in thousands):		29-Sep-13				30-Sep-12				29-Sep-13				30-Sep-12
	Americas		$	10,987			$	14,931			$	32,725			$	44,564
	EMEA		6,429				5,510				17,944				26,835
	APAC		7,306				3,944				22,224				11,348
Schedule of Revenue by Major Customers by Reporting Segments [Table Text Block]	'
				Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	(As a percentage of total revenue):			29-Sep-13			30-Sep-12			29-Sep-13			30-Sep-12
	Significant Customers:	Business Segment
	NRG Solar, Inc.	Americas		*			46	%		23	%		32	%
	MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company	Americas		33	%		*			21	%		*
	* denotes less than 10% during the period

The_Company_and_Summary_of_Sig2

The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Jul. 01, 2012	Apr. 01, 2012	Sep. 29, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012
									Property, Plant and Equipment, Other Types [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$100.70
Number of Weeks in Fiscal Year	'	'	'	'	'	'	'52	'52	'
Number of Weeks in Presented Quarter	'13	'13	'13	'13	'13	'13	'	'	'

Transactions_with_Total_Detail

Transactions with Total (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

Jun. 28, 2011

Jun. 21, 2011

Jun. 14, 2011

Jun. 13, 2011

Apr. 28, 2011

Feb. 28, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Jan. 31, 2012

Jan. 31, 2012

Jun. 21, 2011

Jun. 13, 2011

Apr. 28, 2011

Jun. 21, 2011

Jun. 13, 2011

Apr. 28, 2011

Jun. 21, 2011

Jun. 13, 2011

Apr. 28, 2011

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

29-May-13

Total [Member]

Total [Member]

Total [Member]

Total [Member]

Total [Member]

Total [Member]

Total [Member]

Tenesol [Member]

Total [Member]

Total [Member]

Total [Member]

Total [Member]

Total [Member]

Total [Member]

Total [Member]

Total [Member]

Total [Member]

Total [Member]

Total [Member]

Total [Member]

Total [Member]

Total [Member]

Total [Member]

0.75% Debentures due 2018

0.75% Debentures due 2018

0.75% Debentures due 2018

Private Placement [Member]

Total [Member]

Common Class A [Member]

Common Class A [Member]

Common Class A [Member]

Common Class B [Member]

Common Class B [Member]

Common Class B [Member]

Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Purchase Price

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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'

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'

$165,400,000

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'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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'

100.00%

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'

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'

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'

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'

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'

'

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'

'

'

Sale of Stock, Number of Shares Issued in Transaction

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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'

'

18,600,000

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'

'

'

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'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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'

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'

'

'

Sale of Stock, Price Per Share

'

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'

'

'

'

'

'

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'

$8.80

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'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Sale of Stock, Percentage of Ownership after Transaction

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

66.00%

'

'

'

'

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'

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'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Tender Offer Agreement, Date

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'

'4/28/2011

'

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'

'

'

'

'

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'

'

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'

Tender Offer Agreement, Percentage of Outstanding Share to be Acquired Under Agreement

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

60.00%

'

'

60.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Tender Offer Agreement, Purchase Price per Share

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$23.25

'

'

$23.25

'

'

$23.25

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Tender Offer Agreement, Expiration Date

'

'

'

'

'6/14/2011

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Tender Offer Agreement, Payment Date

'

'

'

'6/21/2011

'

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'

'

'

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'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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Tender Offer Agreement, Shares Purchased

'

'

'

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'

'

'

'

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'

'

'

'

'

'

'

34,756,682

'

'

25,220,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Tender Offer Agreement, Percentage of Outstanding Shares Acquired

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

60.00%

'

'

60.00%

'

'

60.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Tender Offer Agreement, Outstanding Shares Calculation Date

'

'

'

'

'

'6/13/2011

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Tender Offer Agreement, Date of European Commission Clearance

'

'

'6/28/2011

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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'

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'

'

Tender Offer Agreement, Total Purchase Price

'

'

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'

'

'

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'

'

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'

'

'

'

1,400,000,000

'

'

'

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'

'

'

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Credit Support Agreement, Guaranty Fees Incurred

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'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,700,000

1,700,000

6,200,000

5,200,000

'

'

'

'

'

Affiliation Agreement, Voting Power Restricted by Affiliation Agreement

'

100.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Affiliation Agreement, Percent of Shares Able to Transfer Restricted By Affiliation Agreement

'

40.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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Funding Received from Research & Collaboration Agreement

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

300,000

1,300,000

'

'

'

Registration Rights Agreement, Shares Held Minimum Percentage Threshold

5.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

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'

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'

'

Registration Rights Agreement, Number Of Days Shares Can Be Resold Termination

'90 days

'

'

'

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'

'

'

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'

By Laws Amendment, Minimum Percentage of Voting Interest Collectively Owned

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30.00%

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'

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'

'

'

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'

'

'

Liquidity Support Agreement, Maximum Capacity

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'

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600,000,000

'

'

600,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liquidity Support Agreement, Unrestricted Cash, Cash Equivalents and Unused Borrowing Capacity, Threshold for Liquidity Support

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

100,000,000

100,000,000

'

'

100,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liquidity Support Agreement, Utilized Capacity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

250,000,000

'

'

250,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liquidity Support Facility, Warrant, Numerator For Warrant Shares Calculation

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

75,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liquidity Support Facility, Warrant, Minimum Amount of Outstanding Convertible Debt Required to be Outstanding

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

25,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liquidity Support Facility, Warrant, Maximum Ownership Percentage Allowed

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

74.99%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liquidity Support Facility, Warrant, Trading Period For Warrant Shares Calculation

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'30 days

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liquidity Support Facility, Warrant Term

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'7 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liquidity Support Facility, Warrant Issued, Number of Common Stock Shares

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

9,531,677

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liquidity Support Facility, Warrant Issued, Exercise Price Per Share

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$7.87

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liquidity Support Facility, Time Period After Calendar Quarter For Required Cash Payments

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'30 days

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liquidity Support Facility, Unused Capacity, Commitment Fee Percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.25%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liquidity Support Facility, Guarantee Fee, Percent of Average Guaranteed Debt

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.75%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liquidity Support Facility, Basis Spread LIBOR Rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liquidity Support Facility, Available Capacity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

350,000,000

'

'

350,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liquidity Support Facility, Commitment Fees

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,500,000

'

1,400,000

4,000,000

3,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Master Agreement, Maximum R&D Funding

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2,500,000

'

'

2,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Face Amount

943,362,000

943,362,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

300,000,000

Debt Instrument, Face Amount, Acquired by Total

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$200,000,000

Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Strike Price

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

24.95

24.95

'

Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Indexed Shares

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

8,017,420

8,017,420

'

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_1

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012		Dec. 30, 2012
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'	'		'
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	'	'	$0	$46,734	[1]	'
Other intangible assets, net	514	'	514	'		744
Amortization of Intangible Assets	100	2,600	231	8,099	[1]	'
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	'	'	$0	$12,847	[1]	'
[1]	As adjusted to conform to the current period presentation for solar power systems leased and to be leased (see Note 1).

Balance_Sheet_Components_Detai

Balance Sheet Components (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 30, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Jul. 01, 2012

Jan. 01, 2012

Capital Leases, Lessor Balance Sheet, Net Investment in Direct Financing and Sales Type Leases, Current

$6,000,000

'

$6,000,000

'

'

$4,500,000

'

'

Accounts receivable, net:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Accounts receivable, gross

407,680,000

[1]

'

407,680,000

[1]

'

'

429,977,000

[1]

'

'

Accounts receivable, net

377,824,000

'

377,824,000

'

'

398,150,000

'

'

Inventories:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Raw materials

79,272,000

'

79,272,000

'

'

89,331,000

'

'

Work-in-process

47,212,000

'

47,212,000

'

'

50,627,000

'

'

Finished goods

161,565,000

'

161,565,000

'

'

151,428,000

'

'

Inventories, net

288,049,000

'

288,049,000

'

'

291,386,000

'

'

Prepaid expenses and other current assets:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

VAT receivables, current portion

99,899,000

'

99,899,000

'

'

97,041,000

'

'

Derivative Assets, Current

2,198,000

'

2,198,000

'

'

1,275,000

'

'

Deferred project costs

172,679,000

'

172,679,000

'

'

305,980,000

'

'

Deferred costs for solar power systems to be leased, current

25,264,000

'

25,264,000

'

'

31,419,000

'

'

Other current assets

46,314,000

'

46,314,000

'

'

47,468,000

'

'

Other receivables

78,336,000

'

78,336,000

'

'

104,640,000

'

'

Other prepaid expenses

28,905,000

'

28,905,000

'

'

25,230,000

'

'

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

453,595,000

[2]

'

453,595,000

[2]

'

'

613,053,000

[2]

'

'

Project assets - plant and land:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Project assets - plant

91,911,000

'

91,911,000

'

'

61,862,000

'

'

Project assets - land

9,653,000

'

9,653,000

'

'

21,645,000

'

'

Project assets - plant and land, net

101,564,000

'

101,564,000

'

'

83,507,000

'

'

Project assets - plants and land, current portion

98,005,000

'

98,005,000

'

'

75,911,000

'

'

Project assets - plants and land, net of current portion

3,559,000

'

3,559,000

'

'

7,596,000

'

'

Property, plant and equipment, net:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross

1,293,330,000

'

1,293,330,000

'

'

1,155,429,000

'

'

Less: accumulated depreciation

-441,986,000

'

-441,986,000

'

'

-380,520,000

'

'

Property, plant and equipment, net

851,344,000

[3]

'

851,344,000

[3]

'

'

774,909,000

[3]

'

'

Sale Leaseback Transaction, Historical Cost

25,300,000

'

25,300,000

'

'

'

'

'

Depreciation expense

'

'

72,893,000

82,747,000

[4]

'

'

'

'

Interest expense:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Interest cost incurred

-29,075,000

-26,912,000

-81,827,000

-66,899,000

'

'

'

'

Cash interest cost capitalized - property, plant and equipment

39,000

272,000

267,000

859,000

'

'

'

'

Non-cash interest cost capitalized - property, plant and equipment

0

142,000

57,000

444,000

'

'

'

'

Cash interest cost capitalized - project assets - plant and land

96,000

395,000

395,000

944,000

'

'

'

'

Non-cash interest cost capitalized - project assets - plant and land

79,000

269,000

343,000

717,000

'

'

'

'

Interest expense

-28,861,000

-25,834,000

-80,765,000

-63,935,000

'

'

'

'

Other long-term assets:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Equity Method Investments

113,778,000

'

113,778,000

'

'

111,516,000

'

'

Derivative Assets, Noncurrent

96,635,000

'

96,635,000

'

'

2,327,000

'

'

Cost Method Investments

12,374,000

'

12,374,000

'

'

14,918,000

'

'

Capital Leases, Lessor Balance Sheet, Net Investment in Direct Financing and Sales Type Leases, Current

139,177,000

'

139,177,000

'

'

67,742,000

'

'

Long-term debt issuance costs

18,153,000

'

18,153,000

'

'

38,185,000

'

'

Other

113,608,000

'

113,608,000

'

'

41,375,000

'

'

Other long-term assets

493,725,000

[2]

'

493,725,000

[2]

'

'

276,063,000

[2]

'

'

Accrued liabilities:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

VAT payables

'

'

'

'

5,456,000

2,049,000

'

'

Foreign currency derivatives

'

'

'

'

7,250,000

4,891,000

'

'

Short-term warranty reserves

'

'

'

'

9,468,000

9,054,000

'

'

Interest payable

'

'

'

'

10,840,000

9,672,000

'

'

Deferred revenue

'

'

'

'

25,521,000

32,507,000

'

'

Employee compensation and employee benefits

'

'

'

'

48,024,000

40,750,000

'

'

Restructuring Reserve

11,935,000

'

11,935,000

'

11,935,000

29,477,000

'

'

Short-term residential lease financing

'

'

'

'

28,471,000

25,153,000

'

'

Other

'

'

'

'

109,489,000

93,819,000

'

'

Accrued liabilities, current

256,454,000

'

256,454,000

'

256,454,000

247,372,000

'

'

Other long-term liabilities:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Embedded conversion option derivatives

96,665,000

'

96,665,000

'

'

2,327,000

'

'

Long-term warranty reserves

125,307,000

'

125,307,000

'

'

107,803,000

'

'

Deferred revenue

157,395,000

'

157,395,000

'

'

128,936,000

'

'

Unrecognized tax benefits

25,193,000

'

25,193,000

'

'

35,022,000

'

'

Long-term residential lease financing

28,788,000

'

28,788,000

'

'

11,411,000

'

'

Long-term sale-leaseback financing

36,575,000

'

36,575,000

'

'

0

'

'

Other

50,337,000

'

50,337,000

'

'

50,120,000

'

'

Other long-term liabilities

520,260,000

'

520,260,000

'

'

335,619,000

'

'

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Cumulative translation adjustment

-4,322,000

'

-4,322,000

'

'

-2,319,000

'

'

Net unrealized gain on derivatives

-767,000

-265,000

-767,000

-265,000

1,238,000

-243,000

2,346,000

10,473,000

Deferred taxes

141,000

'

141,000

'

'

41,000

'

'

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

-4,948,000

'

-4,948,000

'

'

-2,521,000

'

'

Residential lease financing

57,300,000

'

57,300,000

'

'

36,600,000

'

'

Equipment [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, plant and equipment, net:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Collateralized equipment

'

'

'

'

'

16,500,000

'

'

Leasehold Improvements [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, plant and equipment, net:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross

229,817,000

'

229,817,000

'

'

221,378,000

'

'

Machinery and Equipment [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, plant and equipment, net:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross

545,174,000

[5]

'

545,174,000

[5]

'

'

531,289,000

[5]

'

'

Computer Equipment [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, plant and equipment, net:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross

77,087,000

'

77,087,000

'

'

75,438,000

'

'

Other Energy Equipment [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, plant and equipment, net:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross

54,585,000

[6]

'

54,585,000

[6]

'

'

12,501,000

[6]

'

'

Solar power systems leased [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, plant and equipment, net:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross

290,388,000

'

290,388,000

'

'

163,003,000

'

'

Collateralized equipment

228,300,000

'

228,300,000

'

'

280,800,000

'

'

Furniture and Fixtures [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, plant and equipment, net:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross

8,262,000

'

8,262,000

'

'

8,178,000

'

'

Solar power systems to be leased [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, plant and equipment, net:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross

52,936,000

'

52,936,000

'

'

89,423,000

'

'

Construction in Progress [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, plant and equipment, net:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross

9,001,000

'

9,001,000

'

'

34,110,000

'

'

Land and Building [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, plant and equipment, net:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross

26,080,000

'

26,080,000

'

'

20,109,000

'

'

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, Current [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Accounts receivable, net:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Balance

-27,476,000

'

-27,476,000

'

'

-26,773,000

'

'

Allowance for Sales Returns [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Accounts receivable, net:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Balance

-2,380,000

'

-2,380,000

'

'

-5,054,000

'

'

Philippines

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, plant and equipment, net:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, plant and equipment, net

333,959,000

[3]

'

333,959,000

[3]

'

'

367,708,000

[3]

'

'

United States

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, plant and equipment, net:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, plant and equipment, net

458,825,000

[3]

'

458,825,000

[3]

'

'

343,710,000

[3]

'

'

Mexico

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, plant and equipment, net:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, plant and equipment, net

32,377,000

[3]

'

32,377,000

[3]

'

'

32,409,000

[3]

'

'

Europe

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, plant and equipment, net:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, plant and equipment, net

25,681,000

[3]

'

25,681,000

[3]

'

'

29,292,000

[3]

'

'

Other

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, plant and equipment, net:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, plant and equipment, net

502,000

[3]

'

502,000

[3]

'

'

1,790,000

[3]

'

'

IFC Mortgage Loan [Member] | Mortgages [Member]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Property, plant and equipment, net:

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Collateralized equipment

$153,500,000

'

$153,500,000

'

'

$152,900,000

'

'

[1]

Includes short-term finance receivables associated with solar power systems leased of $6.0 million and $4.5 million as of SeptemberB 29, 2013 and DecemberB 30, 2012, respectively.

[2]

The Company has related party balances in connection with transactions made with Total and its affiliates as well as unconsolidated entities in which the Company has a direct equity investment. These related party balances are recorded within the "Prepaid expenses and other current assets," "Other long-term assets," "Accounts payable," "Customer advances, current portion," "Convertible debt, net of current portion," and "Customer advances, net of current portion" financial statement line items in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (see Note 2, Note 4, Note 5, Note 7, and Note 8).

[3]

Property, plant and equipment, net are based on the physical location of the assets.

[4]

As adjusted to conform to the current period presentation for solar power systems leased and to be leased (see Note 1).

[5]

The Company's mortgage loan agreement with International Finance Corporation ("IFC") is collateralized by certain manufacturing equipment with a net book value of $153.5 million and $152.9 million as of SeptemberB 29, 2013 and DecemberB 30, 2012, respectively. The Company also provided security for advance payments received from a third-party supplier in the form of collateralized manufacturing equipment with a net book value of $16.5 million as of DecemberB 30, 2012.

[6]

Includes $25.3 million of solar power systems associated with sale-leaseback transactions under the financing method as of SeptemberB 29, 2013 (see Note 7).

Fair_Value_Measurements_Detail

Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013		Dec. 30, 2012
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'		'
Fair Value Measurements Transfers Between Measurement Levels	$0		'
Other Assets, Noncurrent	493,725,000	[1]	276,063,000	[1]
Derivative Assets, Current	2,198,000		1,275,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]	'		'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'		'
Total assets	308,001,000		117,254,000
Total liabilities	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]	'		'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'		'
Total assets	99,217,000		3,602,000
Total liabilities	104,410,000		7,218,000
Total [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]	'		'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'		'
Total assets	407,218,000		120,856,000
Total liabilities	104,410,000		7,218,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]	'		'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'		'
Money market funds	308,001,000	[2]	117,254,000	[2]
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]	'		'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'		'
Money market funds	0	[2]	0	[2]
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] | Total [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]	'		'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'		'
Money market funds	308,001,000	[2]	117,254,000	[2]
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]	'		'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'		'
Foreign currency derivatives	0		0
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]	'		'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'		'
Foreign currency derivatives	2,198,000		1,275,000
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets [Member] | Total [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]	'		'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'		'
Foreign currency derivatives	2,198,000		1,275,000
Other Long-Term Assets [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]	'		'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'		'
Foreign currency derivatives	0		0
Debt derivatives	0		0
Other Long-Term Assets [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]	'		'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'		'
Foreign currency derivatives	384,000		0
Debt derivatives	'		2,327,000
Other Long-Term Assets [Member] | Total [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]	'		'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'		'
Foreign currency derivatives	384,000		0
Debt derivatives	96,635,000		2,327,000
Accrued Liabilities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]	'		'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'		'
Foreign currency derivatives	0		0
Accrued Liabilities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]	'		'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'		'
Foreign currency derivatives	7,250,000		4,891,000
Accrued Liabilities [Member] | Total [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]	'		'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'		'
Foreign currency derivatives	7,250,000		4,891,000
Other Long-term Liabilities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]	'		'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'		'
Foreign currency derivatives	0		0
Debt derivatives	0		0
Other Long-term Liabilities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]	'		'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'		'
Foreign currency derivatives	495,000		0
Debt derivatives	'		2,327,000
Other Long-term Liabilities [Member] | Total [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]	'		'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'		'
Foreign currency derivatives	495,000		0
Debt derivatives	$96,665,000		$2,327,000
[1]	The Company has related party balances in connection with transactions made with Total and its affiliates as well as unconsolidated entities in which the Company has a direct equity investment. These related party balances are recorded within the "Prepaid expenses and other current assets," "Other long-term assets," "Accounts payable," "Customer advances, current portion," "Convertible debt, net of current portion," and "Customer advances, net of current portion" financial statement line items in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (see Note 2, Note 4, Note 5, Note 7, and Note 8).
[2]	The Company's cash equivalents consist of money market fund instruments which are classified as available-for-sale and within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices for identical instruments in active markets.

Fair_Value_Measurements_Fair_V1

Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Measurements - Debt Derivatives (Details) (Bond Hedge [Member], USD $)	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013		Dec. 30, 2012
Statement [Line Items]	'		'
Stock price	$26.17	[1]	$5.49	[1]
Interest rate	0.37%	[1]	0.40%	[1]
Stock volatility	59.60%	[1]	59.90%	[1]
Credit risk adjustment	1.04%	[1]	1.07%	[1]
Maturity date	18-Feb-15	[1]	18-Feb-15	[1]
4.50% Debentures [Member]	'		'
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'		'
Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Strike Price	22.53	[1]	22.53	[1]
[1]	The valuation model utilizes these inputs to value the right but not the obligation to purchase one share at $22.53. The Company utilized a Black-Scholes valuation model to value the 4.50% Bond Hedge and embedded cash conversion option. The underlying input assumptions were determined as follows:(i)Stock price. The closing price of the Company's common stock on the last trading day of the quarter.(ii)Exercise price. The exercise price of the 4.50% Bond Hedge and the embedded cash conversion option.(iii)Interest rate. The Treasury Strip rate associated with the life of the 4.50% Bond Hedge and the embedded cash conversion option.(iv)Stock volatility. The volatility of the Company's common stock over the life of the 4.50% Bond Hedge and the embedded cash conversion option.(v)Credit risk adjustment. Represents the weighted average of the credit default swap rate of the counterparties.

Fair_Value_Measurements_Assets

Fair Value Measurements - Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 29, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'	'
Marketable Securities, Restricted, Noncurrent	$9,179,000	$10,885,000
Cost Method Investments	12,374,000	14,918,000
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties	1,900,000	5,900,000
Accounts Payable, Related Parties	5,100,000	12,900,000
Notes Receivable, Related Parties, Noncurrent	1,900,000	'
Equity Method Investments	$113,778,000	$111,516,000

Restructuring_Details

Restructuring (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 29, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring charges	$1,114,000		$10,544,000	$1,705,000		$61,189,000
Restructuring Costs	'		'	1,110,000		'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring liability, beginning of period	11,935,000		'	29,477,000		'
Payments	'		'	18,652,000		'
Restructuring liability, end of period	11,935,000		'	11,935,000		'
Restructuring and Related Cost, Cost Incurred to Date	'		'	123,931,000		'
October 2012 Restructuring Plan [Member]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring charges	56,000		0	-777,000		0
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring and Related Cost, Number of Positions Eliminated	'		'	900		'
Restructuring and Related Cost, Number of Positions Eliminated, Percent of Workforce	'		'	15.00%		'
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Percentage of Costs to be Settled With Cash	'		'	90.00%		'
Restructuring and Related Cost, Cost Incurred to Date	'		'	29,450,000		'
October 2012 Restructuring Plan [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost	'		'	30,000,000		'
October 2012 Restructuring Plan [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring and Related Cost, Expected Cost	'		'	35,000,000		'
October 2012 Restructuring Plan [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring charges	42,000		0	-1,779,000		0
Restructuring Costs	'		'	-1,779,000		'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring liability, beginning of period	'		'	24,439,000		'
Payments	'		'	14,676,000		'
Restructuring liability, end of period	7,984,000		'	7,984,000		'
Restructuring and Related Cost, Cost Incurred to Date	'		'	27,274,000		'
October 2012 Restructuring Plan [Member] | Facility Closing [Member]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring charges	-162,000		0	-89,000		0
Restructuring Costs	'		'	-89,000		'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring liability, beginning of period	'		'	714,000		'
Payments	'		'	320,000		'
Restructuring liability, end of period	305,000		'	305,000		'
Restructuring and Related Cost, Cost Incurred to Date	'		'	625,000		'
October 2012 Restructuring Plan [Member] | Other Restructuring Costs [Member]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring charges	176,000		0	1,091,000		0
Restructuring Costs	'		'	1,091,000	[1]	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring liability, beginning of period	'		'	358,000	[1]	'
Payments	'		'	1,343,000	[1]	'
Restructuring liability, end of period	106,000	[1]	'	106,000	[1]	'
Restructuring and Related Cost, Cost Incurred to Date	'		'	1,551,000		'
Legacy Restructuring Plans	'		'	'		'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring charges	1,058,000		10,544,000	2,482,000		61,189,000
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring and Related Cost, Cost Incurred to Date	'		'	94,481,000		'
Legacy Restructuring Plans | Non-cash Impairment Charges [Member]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring charges	595,000		9,965,000	595,000		53,371,000
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring and Related Cost, Cost Incurred to Date	'		'	60,748,000		'
Legacy Restructuring Plans | Employee Severance [Member]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring charges	394,000		-110,000	394,000		1,345,000
Restructuring Costs	'		'	394,000		'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring liability, beginning of period	'		'	60,000		'
Payments	'		'	41,000		'
Restructuring liability, end of period	413,000		'	413,000		'
Restructuring and Related Cost, Cost Incurred to Date	'		'	20,230,000		'
Legacy Restructuring Plans | Facility Closing [Member]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring charges	26,000		-1,481,000	1,363,000		2,849,000
Restructuring Costs	'		'	1,363,000		'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring liability, beginning of period	'		'	2,436,000		'
Payments	'		'	1,452,000		'
Restructuring liability, end of period	2,347,000		'	2,347,000		'
Restructuring and Related Cost, Cost Incurred to Date	'		'	5,569,000		'
Legacy Restructuring Plans | Other Restructuring Costs [Member]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring charges	43,000		2,170,000	130,000		3,624,000
Restructuring Costs	'		'	130,000	[1]	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'		'	'		'
Restructuring liability, beginning of period	'		'	1,470,000	[1]	'
Payments	'		'	820,000	[1]	'
Restructuring liability, end of period	780,000	[1]	'	780,000	[1]	'
Restructuring and Related Cost, Cost Incurred to Date	'		'	$7,934,000		'
[1]	Other costs primarily represent associated legal services.

Commitments_and_Contingencies_1

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 29, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 30, 2012
				SolarSystem
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'		'	'		'	'
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Future Minimum Sublease Rentals	$78,200,000		'	$78,200,000		'	'
Capital Lease Obligations [Abstract]	'		'	'		'	'
Project Financing Agreement, Lease Terms	'		'	'20 years		'	'
Power Purchase Agreement, Term	'20 years		'	'20 years		'	'
Purchase Commitments [Abstract]	'		'	'		'	'
Purchase Commitments, Supply and Price Period	'		'	'10 years		'	'
Purchase Commitments	'		'	'		'	'
Total obligations related to non-cancellable orders	249,019,000	[1]	'	249,019,000	[1]	'	'
Commitments to non-consolidated joint ventures	137,700,000		'	137,700,000		'	'
Product Warranties [Abstract]	'		'	'		'	'
Standard Product Warranty Term, Solar Panels	'		'	'25 years		'	'
Industry Standard Product Warranty Term, Solar Panels	'		'	'25 years		'	'
Standard Product Warranty Term, Inverter, Minimum	'		'	'5 years		'	'
Standard Product Warranty Term, Inverter, Maximum	'		'	'10 years		'	'
Standard Product Warranty Term, Worksmanship	'		'	'10 years		'	'
Movement in Standard and Extended Product Warranty, Increase (Decrease) [Roll Forward]	'		'	'		'	'
Balance at the beginning of the period	126,293,000		104,439,000	117,172,000		94,323,000	'
Accruals for warranties issued during the period	9,643,000		7,387,000	21,995,000		20,692,000	'
Settlements made during the period	1,161,000		2,174,000	-4,392,000		5,363,000	'
Balance at the end of the period	134,775,000		109,652,000	134,775,000		109,652,000	'
Liabilities Associated with Uncertain Tax Positions	'		'	'		'	'
Unrecognized tax benefits	25,193,000		'	25,193,000		'	35,022,000
Loss Contingency, Settlement Agreement, Consideration	'		'	'		'	19,700,000
Sytems Repurchase Under Performance Guarantee	'		'	0		'	'
Minimum Lease Payments, Sale Leaseback Transactions	39,200,000		'	39,200,000		'	'
Supply Commitment, Remaining Minimum Amount Committed	2,282,413,000	[1]	'	2,282,413,000	[1]	'	'
AUOSP [Member]	'		'	'		'	'
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'		'	'		'	'
Future Financing Obligations Year One	147,120,000		'	147,120,000		'	'
Future Financing Obligations Year Two	96,770,000		'	96,770,000		'	'
Future Financing Obligations	243,890,000		'	243,890,000		'	'
Capital Lease Obligations [Member]	'		'	'		'	'
Capital Lease Obligations [Abstract]	'		'	'		'	'
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Next Twelve Months	259,000		'	259,000		'	'
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due in Two Years	1,056,000		'	1,056,000		'	'
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due in Three Years	1,012,000		'	1,012,000		'	'
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due in Four Years	993,000		'	993,000		'	'
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due in Five Years	947,000		'	947,000		'	'
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due Thereafter	2,449,000		'	2,449,000		'	'
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due	6,716,000		'	6,716,000		'	'
Operating Lease Obligation [Member]	'		'	'		'	'
Operating Leases Obligations [Abstract]	'		'	'		'	'
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Next Twelve Months	6,085,000		'	6,085,000		'	'
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Two Years	15,327,000		'	15,327,000		'	'
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Three Years	14,441,000		'	14,441,000		'	'
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Four Years	13,894,000		'	13,894,000		'	'
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Five Years	12,290,000		'	12,290,000		'	'
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due Thereafter	85,386,000		'	85,386,000		'	'
Operating Lease, Future Minimum Payments Due	147,423,000		'	147,423,000		'	'
Purchase Commitment [Member]	'		'	'		'	'
Purchase Commitments	'		'	'		'	'
2013	591,486,000	[1]	'	591,486,000	[1]	'	'
2014	523,887,000	[1]	'	523,887,000	[1]	'	'
2015	370,463,000	[1]	'	370,463,000	[1]	'	'
2016	334,105,000	[1]	'	334,105,000	[1]	'	'
2017	194,512,000	[1]	'	194,512,000	[1]	'	'
Thereafter	516,979,000	[1]	'	516,979,000	[1]	'	'
Total future purchase commitments	$2,531,432,000	[1]	'	$2,531,432,000	[1]	'	'
[1]	Total future purchase obligations as of SeptemberB 29, 2013 include $137.7 million to related parties.

Commitments_and_Contingencies_2

Commitments and Contingencies - Advances to Suppliers (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 29, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012	Sep. 29, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012	Sep. 29, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012
				Supplier Concentration Risk [Member]	Supplier Concentration Risk [Member]	Supplier Concentration Risk [Member]	Supplier Concentration Risk [Member]
				Supplier One [Member]	Supplier One [Member]	Supplier Two [Member]	Supplier Two [Member]
				Advance [Member]	Advance [Member]	Advance [Member]	Advance [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Advances to suppliers, current portion	$75,680,000	$75,680,000	$50,282,000	'	'	'	'
Concentration Risk, Percentage	'	'	'	75.00%	76.00%	24.00%	23.00%
Advance to Suppliers Obligation Year One (2013)	39,475,000	39,475,000	'	'	'	'	'
Advance to Suppliers Obligation Year Two (2014)	65,791,000	65,791,000	'	'	'	'	'
Total Future Advances to Suppliers	105,266,000	105,266,000	'	'	'	'	'
Advance to Suppliers	365,100,000	365,100,000	351,400,000	'	'	'	'
Payments for inventories or services	$26,300,000	$41,800,000	'	'	'	'	'

Commitments_and_Contingencies_3

Commitments and Contingencies - Future Financing Commitments (Details) (AUOSP [Member], USD $)	Sep. 29, 2013
AUOSP [Member]	'
Financing Commitment [Line Items]	'
Future Financing Obligations Year One	$147,120,000
Future Financing Obligations Year Two	96,770,000
Future Financing Obligation	$241,000,000

Commitments_and_Contingencies_4

Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies - Advances From Customers (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 29, 2013		Dec. 30, 2012
Schedule of Estimated Utilization of Advances From Customers [Line Items]	'		'
Customer Advances, Current	$44,977,000	[1]	$59,648,000	[1]
Customer Advances, Noncurrent	170,798,000	[1]	236,082,000	[1]
2013	17,980,000		'
2014	30,512,000		'
2015	18,387,000		'
2016	22,713,000		'
2017	27,039,000		'
Thereafter	99,144,000		'
Total	215,775,000		'
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	'		32,000,000
Receivables, Net, Current	'		7,600,000
Customer, Polysilicon Purchaser [Member]	'		'
Schedule of Estimated Utilization of Advances From Customers [Line Items]	'		'
Customer Advances and Deposits	'		56,100,000
Customer Advances, Current	'		8,100,000
Customer, AUOSP [Member]	'		'
Schedule of Estimated Utilization of Advances From Customers [Line Items]	'		'
Customer Advances and Deposits	184,400,000		190,100,000
Customer Advances, Current	13,600,000		8,800,000
Equipment [Member]	'		'
Schedule of Estimated Utilization of Advances From Customers [Line Items]	'		'
Collateralized equipment	'		$16,500,000
[1]	The Company has related party balances in connection with transactions made with Total and its affiliates as well as unconsolidated entities in which the Company has a direct equity investment. These related party balances are recorded within the "Prepaid expenses and other current assets," "Other long-term assets," "Accounts payable," "Customer advances, current portion," "Convertible debt, net of current portion," and "Customer advances, net of current portion" financial statement line items in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (see Note 2, Note 4, Note 5, Note 7, and Note 8).

Equity_Method_Investments_Deta

Equity Method Investments (Details) (USD $)

Sep. 29, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Jan. 01, 2012

Jul. 03, 2011

Jun. 30, 2010

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified

CCPV [Member]

Diamond Energy [Member]

AUOSP [Member]

Woongjin Energy [Member]

Woongjin Energy [Member]

Woongjin Energy [Member]

Equity Method Investee [Member]

Equity Method Investee [Member]

Equity Method Investee [Member]

Equity Method Investee [Member]

Equity Method Investee [Member]

CCPV [Member]

Diamond Energy [Member]

AUOSP [Member]

Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Equity Method Investments

$113,778,000

$111,516,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee, Additional Issuance of Shares to Investors Outside the Consolidated Group

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

15.9

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Equity Method Investment, Shares Sold

'

'

'

'

'

15.5

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Accounts receivable

1,900,000

5,900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

10,304,000

'

10,304,000

'

17,847,000

'

'

'

Accounts payable

5,100,000

12,900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

48,080,000

'

48,080,000

'

63,469,000

'

'

'

Payments made to joint ventures for products/services

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

112,416,000

123,112,000

338,495,000

452,379,000

'

'

'

'

Payments to Acquire Equity Method Investments

'

'

'

3,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Joint Venture, Energy Output Committed to Purchase in Years Two Through Seven

'

'

'

'

80.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Future Financing Obligation

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

241,000,000

Potential Additional Financing Obligation if Requested by Joint Venture

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

50,000,000

Future Financing Obligations Upon Close of Joint Venture Agreement

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

16,300,000

'

'

Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Gross, Noncurrent

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,863,000

'

1,863,000

'

1,040,000

'

'

'

Loan receivable, interest rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.00%

'

Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage

'

'

25.00%

25.00%

50.00%

6.00%

31.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Notes Receivable, Related Parties

$2,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt_and_Credit_Sources_Detail

Debt and Credit Sources (Details) (USD $)

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 30, 2012

Feb. 28, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

29-May-13

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Apr. 01, 2010

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

31-May-09

Jan. 01, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

6-May-10

Sep. 29, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Jun. 30, 2011

Sep. 29, 2013

Jul. 03, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Jul. 31, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Feb. 16, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Feb. 28, 2007

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

Total [Member]

Total [Member]

Bond Hedge [Member]

Bond Hedge [Member]

Bond Hedge [Member]

Bond Hedge [Member]

Bond Hedge [Member]

Embedded Cash Conversion Option [Member]

Embedded Cash Conversion Option [Member]

Embedded Cash Conversion Option [Member]

Embedded Cash Conversion Option [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

0.75% Debentures due 2018

0.75% Debentures due 2018

0.75% Debentures due 2018

0.75% Debentures due 2018

0.75% Debentures due 2018

0.75% Debentures due 2018

4.50% Debentures [Member]

4.50% Debentures [Member]

4.50% Debentures [Member]

4.50% Debentures [Member]

4.50% Debentures [Member]

4.50% Debentures [Member]

4.50% Debentures [Member]

4.75% Debentures [Member]

4.75% Debentures [Member]

4.75% Debentures [Member]

4.75% Debentures [Member]

4.75% Debentures [Member]

IFC Mortgage Loan [Member]

IFC Mortgage Loan [Member]

IFC Mortgage Loan [Member]

IFC Mortgage Loan [Member]

IFC Mortgage Loan [Member]

CEDA Loan [Member]

CEDA Loan [Member]

CEDA Loan [Member]

July 2013 Credit Agricole Revolving Credit Facility [Domain]

July 2013 Credit Agricole Revolving Credit Facility [Domain]

Deutsche Bank Letter of Credit Facility August 2011 [Member]

Deutsche Bank Letter of Credit Facility August 2011 [Member]

Deutsche Bank Trust [Member]

Deutsche Bank Trust [Member]

Credit Agricole Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Credit Agricole Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Credit Agricole Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Israel Project Loan [Member]

Combined Project Loan [Member]

Tenesol Other Long-term Debt [Member]

Other Long-term Debt [Member]

Other Long-term Debt [Member]

Combined Other Long-term Debt [Member]

1.25% Debentures [Member]

1.25% Debentures [Member]

1.25% Debentures [Member]

0.75% Debentures [Member]

0.75% Debentures [Member]

0.75% Debentures [Member]

Debt Restructuring Date [Member]

Debt Restructuring Date [Member]

Debt Restructuring Date [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Bond Hedge [Member]

Bond Hedge [Member]

Embedded Cash Conversion Option [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Mortgages [Member]

Mortgages [Member]

Mortgages [Member]

Loans Payable [Member]

Loans Payable [Member]

Loans Payable [Member]

Line of Credit [Member]

Line of Credit [Member]

Letter of Credit [Member]

Letter of Credit [Member]

Letter of Credit [Member]

Letter of Credit [Member]

Line of Credit [Member]

Line of Credit [Member]

Line of Credit [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

July 2013 Credit Agricole Revolving Credit Facility [Domain]

July 2013 Credit Agricole Revolving Credit Facility [Domain]

July 2013 Credit Agricole Revolving Credit Facility [Domain]

Minimum [Member]

Line of Credit [Member]

Line of Credit [Member]

Line of Credit [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$250,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Short-term Debt

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

15,000,000

12,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

60,855,000

134,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Long-term Debt

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

47,500,000

62,500,000

'

30,000,000

30,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

275,000,000

'

'

'

9,928,000

1,234,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2013

30,027,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

30,027,000

[1]

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

2014

276,077,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

230,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

15,000,000

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

31,077,000

[1]

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

2015

265,661,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

250,000,000

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

15,000,000

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

582,000

[1]

'

'

'

'

'

'

79,000

'

'

'

'

2016

15,567,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

15,000,000

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

567,000

[1]

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

2017

15,548,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

15,000,000

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

548,000

[1]

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

Face Value

943,362,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

780,079,000

480,079,000

'

'

300,000,000

'

300,000,000

0

'

'

'

'

250,000,000

250,000,000

250,000,000

'

230,000,000

230,000,000

'

'

'

'

62,500,000

'

'

30,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

70,783,000

'

'

'

'

200,000,000

'

79,000

79,000

'

'

'

Beyond 2017

340,482,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

300,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

'

2,500,000

'

'

30,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

7,982,000

[1]

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

'

'

'

'

Carrying Value

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

751,372,000

438,629,000

'

'

'

'

300,000,000

0

'

'

'

'

221,293,000

208,550,000

'

'

230,000,000

230,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

79,000

79,000

'

'

'

Fair Value

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

946,319,000

447,789,000

[2]

'

'

'

'

354,303,000

0

[2]

'

'

'

'

328,815,000

228,750,000

[2]

'

'

263,127,000

218,960,000

[2]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

74,000

79,000

[2]

'

'

'

Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Shares

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

15,633,957

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Gain (loss) on mark-to-market derivatives

-30,000

4,000

[3]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Price

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

24.95

24.95

'

'

'

'

'

22.53

[4]

22.53

[4]

22.53

[4]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

26.4

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Indexed Shares

'

'

'

'

'

11,100,000

'

11,100,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

8,017,420

8,017,420

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

8,700,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Repayments of Long-term Debt

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

199,800,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Proceeds from Convertible Debt

296,283,000

0

[3]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Proceeds from Bank Debt

0

125,000,000

[3]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.75%

0.75%

'

'

'

'

4.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

4.75%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

8.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.25%

'

0.75%

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Maximum Borrowing Amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

75,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

9,200,000

6,400,000

'

3,000,839

3,000,688,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Stock price

'

'

'

'

'

$26.17

[4]

'

$26.17

[4]

'

$5.49

[4]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Long-term debt

93,154,000

'

375,661,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

200,000,000

'

'

275,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Line of Credit Facility, Basis Spread

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.60%

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.60%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.50%

2.00%

Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

758,900,000

725,300,000

2,000,000

17,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Line of Credit Facility, Increase, Additional Borrowings

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

25,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount

'

'

32,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Letter of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity, 2012

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

725,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Letter of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity, 2013

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

771,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Letter of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity, 2014

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

878,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Letter of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity, 2015

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

936,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Letter of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity, 2016

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,000,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liquidity Support Facility, Available Capacity

'

'

'

'

350,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Commitment Fee

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Borrowing Fee, Percent of Principal

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Prepayment Premium

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Line of Credit Facility, Basis Spread on Base Loan Rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.25%

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.25%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.50%

1.00%

Line of Credit Facility, Basis Spread on Federal Funds Rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.50%

'

'

Line of Credit Facility, Basis Spread on LIBOR Rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.00%

'

'

Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate, Period Two

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4.25%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

debt instruments, basis spread on variable rate, period three

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Embedded Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Embedded Derivative, Net

'

'

'

'

'

35,900,000

-900,000

94,300,000

800,000

'

-36,000,000

900,000

-94,300,000

-800,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Proceeds from sale of claim in connection with share lending arrangement

'

50,645,000

[3]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liquidity Support Agreement, Maximum Capacity

'

'

'

'

600,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liquidity Support Agreement, Unrestricted Cash, Cash Equivalents and Unused Borrowing Capacity, Threshold for Liquidity Support

'

'

'

100,000,000

100,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liquidity Support Facility, Warrant Issued, Number of Common Stock Shares

'

'

'

9,531,677

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liquidity Support Facility, Warrant Issued, Exercise Price Per Share

'

'

'

$7.87

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Line of Credit Facility, Unused Capacity, Commitment Fee Percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.06%

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.06%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.25%

0.35%

Line of Credit Facility, Upfront Fee

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.20%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liquidity Support Facility, Guarantee Fee, Percent of Average Guaranteed Debt

'

'

'

'

2.75%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Proceeds from issuance of project loans, net of issuance costs

68,225,000

27,617,000

[3]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Face Value

943,362,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

780,079,000

480,079,000

'

'

300,000,000

'

300,000,000

0

'

'

'

'

250,000,000

250,000,000

250,000,000

'

230,000,000

230,000,000

'

'

'

'

62,500,000

'

'

30,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

70,783,000

'

'

'

'

200,000,000

'

79,000

79,000

'

'

'

Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$62,500,000

$75,000,000

$62,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$60,400,000

$9,100,000

$1,100,000

[1]

'

$1,368,000

$200,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

[1]

The balance of Other debt excludes payments related to capital leases which are disclosed in Note 7. "Commitments and Contingencies" to these condensed consolidated financial statements.

[2]

The fair value of the convertible debt was determined using Level 1 inputs based on quarterly market prices as reported by an independent pricing source.

[3]

As adjusted to conform to the current period presentation for solar power systems leased and to be leased (see Note 1).

[4]

The valuation model utilizes these inputs to value the right but not the obligation to purchase one share at $22.53. The Company utilized a Black-Scholes valuation model to value the 4.50% Bond Hedge and embedded cash conversion option. The underlying input assumptions were determined as follows:(i)Stock price. The closing price of the Company's common stock on the last trading day of the quarter.(ii)Exercise price. The exercise price of the 4.50% Bond Hedge and the embedded cash conversion option.(iii)Interest rate. The Treasury Strip rate associated with the life of the 4.50% Bond Hedge and the embedded cash conversion option.(iv)Stock volatility. The volatility of the Company's common stock over the life of the 4.50% Bond Hedge and the embedded cash conversion option.(v)Credit risk adjustment. Represents the weighted average of the credit default swap rate of the counterparties.

Debt_and_Credit_Sources_Conver

Debt and Credit Sources - Convertible Debenture and Related Transactions (Details) (USD $)

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

31-May-09

Feb. 28, 2007

Sep. 29, 2013

Dec. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

6-May-10

Sep. 29, 2013

Jun. 30, 2011

Sep. 29, 2013

Embedded Cash Conversion Option [Member]

Embedded Cash Conversion Option [Member]

Embedded Cash Conversion Option [Member]

Embedded Cash Conversion Option [Member]

Bond Hedge [Member]

Bond Hedge [Member]

Bond Hedge [Member]

Bond Hedge [Member]

0.75% Debentures due 2018

0.75% Debentures due 2018

4.50% Debentures [Member]

4.50% Debentures [Member]

4.50% Debentures [Member]

4.50% Debentures [Member]

4.75% Debentures [Member]

1.25% Debentures [Member]

0.75% Debentures [Member]

IFC Mortgage Loan [Member]

IFC Mortgage Loan [Member]

Other Long-term Debt [Member]

Other Long-term Debt [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Convertible Debt [Member]

Mortgages [Member]

Mortgages [Member]

Loans Payable [Member]

Loans Payable [Member]

Line of Credit [Member]

Embedded Cash Conversion Option [Member]

Bond Hedge [Member]

Bond Hedge [Member]

0.75% Debentures due 2018

0.75% Debentures due 2018

4.50% Debentures [Member]

4.50% Debentures [Member]

4.75% Debentures [Member]

4.75% Debentures [Member]

4.75% Debentures [Member]

1.25% Debentures [Member]

0.75% Debentures [Member]

0.75% Debentures [Member]

IFC Mortgage Loan [Member]

IFC Mortgage Loan [Member]

CEDA Loan [Member]

CEDA Loan [Member]

Credit Agricole Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Convertible Debt and Related Transactions [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Convertible Debt, Face Amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$751,372,000

$438,629,000

$300,000,000

$0

$221,293,000

$208,550,000

$230,000,000

$230,000,000

'

'

$79,000

$79,000

'

'

'

'

'

Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Strike Price

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

24.95

24.95

'

22.53

[1]

22.53

[1]

22.53

[1]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Proceeds from Issuance of Debt

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

194,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Cash paid for repurchase of convertible debt

0

198,608,000

[2]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.75%

0.75%

4.50%

'

'

'

4.75%

1.25%

0.75%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

8.50%

'

Embedded Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Embedded Derivative, Net

'

'

36,000,000

-900,000

94,300,000

800,000

-35,900,000

900,000

-94,300,000

-800,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

11,100,000

'

11,100,000

'

8,017,420

8,017,420

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

8,700,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Proceeds from sale of claim in connection with share lending arrangement

'

50,645,000

[2]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Maximum Borrowing Amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

75,000,000

'

'

'

Short-term Debt

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

15,000,000

12,500,000

60,855,000

134,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Long-term Debt, Fair Value

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

946,319,000

447,789,000

[3]

354,303,000

0

[3]

328,815,000

228,750,000

[3]

263,127,000

218,960,000

[3]

'

'

74,000

79,000

[3]

'

'

'

'

'

Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two

276,077,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

31,077,000

[4]

'

'

'

0

'

0

'

230,000,000

'

'

'

0

'

15,000,000

'

0

'

'

Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three

$265,661,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$582,000

[4]

'

'

'

$0

'

$250,000,000

'

$0

'

'

'

$79,000

'

$15,000,000

'

$0

'

$0

[1]

The valuation model utilizes these inputs to value the right but not the obligation to purchase one share at $22.53. The Company utilized a Black-Scholes valuation model to value the 4.50% Bond Hedge and embedded cash conversion option. The underlying input assumptions were determined as follows:(i)Stock price. The closing price of the Company's common stock on the last trading day of the quarter.(ii)Exercise price. The exercise price of the 4.50% Bond Hedge and the embedded cash conversion option.(iii)Interest rate. The Treasury Strip rate associated with the life of the 4.50% Bond Hedge and the embedded cash conversion option.(iv)Stock volatility. The volatility of the Company's common stock over the life of the 4.50% Bond Hedge and the embedded cash conversion option.(v)Credit risk adjustment. Represents the weighted average of the credit default swap rate of the counterparties.

[2]

As adjusted to conform to the current period presentation for solar power systems leased and to be leased (see Note 1).

[3]

The fair value of the convertible debt was determined using Level 1 inputs based on quarterly market prices as reported by an independent pricing source.

[4]

The balance of Other debt excludes payments related to capital leases which are disclosed in Note 7. "Commitments and Contingencies" to these condensed consolidated financial statements.

Foreign_Currency_Derivatives_D

Foreign Currency Derivatives (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 29, 2013	Dec. 30, 2012
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Net	'	$519,000
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Assets [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Net	1,011,000	'
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Accrued Liabilities [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Net	'	410,000
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Liability [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Net	1,967,000	'
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Net	1,571,000	756,000
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Accrued Liabilities [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Net	5,778,000	4,481,000
Foreign Exchange Forward [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives [Abstract]	'	'
Derivative Asset, Notional Amount	72,400,000	26,400,000
Foreign Exchange Forward [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Accrued Liabilities [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Net	498,000	23,000
Foreign Exchange Forward [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives [Abstract]	'	'
Derivative Asset, Notional Amount	106,400,000	121,800,000
Foreign Exchange Forward [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Net	1,498,000	731,000
Foreign Exchange Forward [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Accrued Liabilities [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Net	5,699,000	4,455,000
Foreign Exchange Option [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives [Abstract]	'	'
Derivative Asset, Notional Amount	117,500,000	71,000,000
Foreign Exchange Option [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Net	627,000	519,000
Foreign Exchange Option [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Long-Term Assets [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Net	384,000	0
Foreign Exchange Option [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Accrued Liabilities [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Net	974,000	387,000
Foreign Exchange Option [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other Long-term Liabilities [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Net	495,000	0
Foreign Exchange Option [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'
Notional Amount of Derivatives [Abstract]	'	'
Derivative Asset, Notional Amount	20,700,000	0
Foreign Exchange Option [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Net	73,000	25,000
Foreign Exchange Option [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Accrued Liabilities [Member]	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Net	$79,000	$26,000

Foreign_Currency_Derivatives_N

Foreign Currency Derivatives - Net Gain (Loss) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net unrealized gain on derivatives, beg	$1,238	$2,346	($243)	$10,473
Net unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives	-2,005	-2,611	-524	-10,738
Net unrealized gain on derivatives, end	-767	-265	-767	-265
Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Unrealized gain (loss) recognized in OCI (effective portion)	1,454	253	550	1,386
Sales [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Less: Loss (gain) reclassified from OCI to revenue (effective portion)	551	2,358	-1,074	9,352
Other, Net [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Loss recognized in Other, net on derivatives (ineffective portion and amount excluded from effectiveness testing) (1)	-1,620	-749	-2,123	-1,176
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Other, Net [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) recognized in Other, net	($1,950)	$520	($5,103)	$6,824

Income_Taxes_Details

Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated investees	$81,222	($48,523)	$30,337	($192,935)
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Provision for income taxes	($4,575)	$593	$2,920	$12,542

Net_Loss_Per_Share_of_Common_S2

Net Loss Per Share of Common Stock (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Feb. 28, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 29, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Bond Hedge [Member]

0.75% Debentures due 2018

0.75% Debentures due 2018

0.75% Debentures due 2018

0.75% Debentures due 2018

4.75% Debentures [Member]

4.75% Debentures [Member]

4.75% Debentures [Member]

4.75% Debentures [Member]

Total [Member]

Warrant [Member]

Warrant [Member]

Warrant [Member]

Warrant [Member]

Warrant [Member]

Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]

Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]

Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]

Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]

Stock Options [Member]

Stock Options [Member]

Stock Options [Member]

Stock Options [Member]

4.50% Debentures [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]

Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Income (loss) from continuing operations

$108,386

($48,538)

$73,255

($207,249)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment

'

'

'

'

'

12,026,000

0

5,418,000

0

8,712,000

0

0

0

'

6,377,000

0

4,429,000

0

'

5,328,000

0

4,302,000

0

119,000

0

106,000

0

Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Diluted

$111,614

($48,538)

$73,999

($207,249)

'

$551

$0

$744

$0

$2,677

$0

$0

$0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic

121,314,000

118,952,000

120,604,000

116,408,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted

153,876,000

118,952,000

134,859,000

116,408,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Basic and diluted

$0.89

($0.41)

$0.61

($1.78)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Indexed Shares

'

'

'

'

11,100,000

8,017,420

'

8,017,420

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Strike Price

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

24

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liquidity Support Facility, Warrant Issued, Number of Common Stock Shares

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

9,531,677

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Liquidity Support Facility, Warrant Issued, Exercise Price Per Share

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$7.87

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Earnings Per Share, Diluted

$0.73

($0.41)

$0.55

($1.78)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Net_Loss_Per_Share_of_Common_S3

Net Loss Per Share of Common Stock - Anti-Dilutive Securities (Details)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Stock Options [Member]	'	'		'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'		'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	184	334	[1]	205	377	[1]
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	'	'		'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'		'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	1,537	8,829	[1]	2,047	6,904	[1]
0.75% Debentures [Member]	'	'		'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'		'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	0	'		0	'
Debentures 475 Percent [Member]	'	'		'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'		'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	0	8,712	[1]	8,712	8,712	[1]
Total [Member] | Warrant [Member]	'	'		'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'		'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	0	'		0	'
[1]	As a result of the net loss per share for the three and nine months ended SeptemberB 30, 2012, the inclusion of all potentially dilutive stock options, restricted stock units, and common shares under noted warrants and convertible debt would be anti-dilutive. Therefore, those stock options, restricted stock units and shares were excluded from the computation of the weighted-average shares for diluted net loss per share for such period.

StockBased_Compensation_Detail

Stock-Based Compensation (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	$12,082	$9,271	$31,103	$33,179
Stock Options [Member]	'	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	0	35	0	638
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	'	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	12,402	8,969	31,599	32,411
Change in stock based compensation capitalized in inventory [Member]	'	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs, Capitalized Amount	-320	267	-496	130
Americas [Member]	'	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	1,295	1,589	3,209	4,743
EMEA [Member]	'	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	803	795	1,862	3,158
APAC [Member]	'	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	827	368	2,081	1,125
Cost of Sales [Member] | Americas [Member]	'	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	1,295	1,590	3,209	4,745
Cost of Sales [Member] | EMEA [Member]	'	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	803	795	1,862	3,158
Cost of Sales [Member] | APAC [Member]	'	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	827	368	2,081	1,125
Research and Development Expense [Member]	'	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	1,390	1,045	3,737	3,920
Selling General and Administrative [Member]	'	'	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	$7,767	$5,473	$20,214	$20,231

Segment_Information_Details

Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 29, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012
					segments
Revenue by Geography [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Depreciation	'		'		$72,893		$82,747	[1]
Number of Reportable Segments	'		'		3		'
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Revenue	657,120		648,948		1,869,069		1,738,976
Cost of revenue	463,890		568,175		1,508,665		1,539,455
Gross margin	193,230		80,773		360,404		199,521
Cost of Revenue by Region [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Cost of Revenue	463,890		568,175		1,508,665		1,539,455
Amortization of other intangible assets	-100		-2,600		-231		-8,099	[1]
Stock-based compensation expense	12,082		9,271		31,103		33,179
Gain (Loss) on Contract Termination	'		'		51,988		0	[1]
Americas [Member]	'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Revenue	23,116	[2]	21,372	[2]	42,334	[2]	36,977	[2]
Americas CODM [Member]	'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Revenue	404,422		460,105		1,269,552		1,274,907
Cost of revenue	318,654		367,067		946,967		1,035,870
Cost of Revenue by Region [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Cost of Revenue	318,654		367,067		946,967		1,035,870
Gross margin by region, as a percentage of total revenue	21.00%		20.00%		25.00%		19.00%
Americas [Member]	'		'		'		'
Revenue by Geography [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Depreciation	10,987		14,931		32,725		44,564
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Revenue	442,091		502,373		1,293,822		1,176,148
Cost of revenue	306,024		409,432		1,008,044		978,062
Utility and power plant projects	37,669		42,268		24,270		-98,759
Cost of Revenue by Region [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Cost of Revenue	306,024		409,432		1,008,044		978,062
Utility and power plan projects	11,346		36,453		82,227		-73,890
Stock-based compensation expense	1,295		1,589		3,209		4,743
Non-cash interest expense	291		308		802		731
Gain (Loss) on Contract Termination	-25,604		0		-25,604		0
Other	42		4,015		443		10,608
Gross margin by region, as a percentage of total revenue	31.00%		19.00%		22.00%		17.00%
EMEA [Member]	'		'		'		'
Revenue by Geography [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Depreciation	6,429		5,510		17,944		26,835
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Revenue	120,712		88,547		296,374		400,074
Cost of revenue	100,605		111,622		289,495		422,922
Change in European government incentives	0		0		0		193
Cost of Revenue by Region [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Cost of Revenue	100,605		111,622		289,495		422,922
Stock-based compensation expense	803		795		1,862		3,158
Change in European government incentives	0		0		0		193
Non-cash interest expense	107		112		368		425
Gain (Loss) on Contract Termination	-9,395		0		-9,395		0
Other	0		2,200		186		8,807
Gross margin by region, as a percentage of total revenue	17.00%		-26.00%		2.00%		-6.00%
EMEA CODM [Member]	'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Revenue	120,712		88,547		296,374		399,881
Cost of revenue	109,090		108,515		296,474		410,532
Cost of Revenue by Region [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Cost of Revenue	109,090		108,515		296,474		410,532
Gross margin by region, as a percentage of total revenue	10.00%		-23.00%		0.00%		-3.00%
APAC [Member]	'		'		'		'
Revenue by Geography [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Depreciation	7,306		3,944		22,224		11,348
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Revenue	94,317		58,028		278,873		162,754
Cost of revenue	57,261		47,121		211,126		138,471
Change in European government incentives	0		0		672		0
Cost of Revenue by Region [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Cost of Revenue	57,261		47,121		211,126		138,471
Stock-based compensation expense	827		368		2,081		1,125
Change in European government incentives	0		0		672		0
Non-cash interest expense	193		81		542		190
Gain (Loss) on Contract Termination	-16,988		0		-16,988		0
Other	0		1,038		258		3,050
Gross margin by region, as a percentage of total revenue	39.00%		19.00%		24.00%		15.00%
APAC CODM [Member]	'		'		'		'
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Revenue	94,317		58,028		278,201		162,754
Cost of revenue	73,229		45,634		225,233		134,106
Cost of Revenue by Region [Abstract]	'		'		'		'
Cost of Revenue	$73,229		$45,634		$225,233		$134,106
Gross margin by region, as a percentage of total revenue	22.00%		21.00%		19.00%		18.00%
[1]	As adjusted to conform to the current period presentation for solar power systems leased and to be leased (see Note 1).
[2]	Other revenue includes revenue related to our solar power services and solutions, such as post-installation systems monitoring and maintenance in connection with construction contracts, and commercial PPA agreements.

Segment_Information_Major_Cust

Segment Information - Major Customer (Details) (Americas [Member])	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 29, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013
	NRG Solar, Inc. [Member]	NRG Solar, Inc. [Member]	NRG Solar, Inc. [Member]	Mid American Energy Holdings Company [Member]	Mid American Energy Holdings Company [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Revenue as a percentage of total revenue	46.00%	23.00%	32.00%	33.00%	21.00%

Segment_Information_Segment_In

Segment Information Segment Information - Category (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 29, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012
Revenue by Significant Category	'		'		'		'
Revenue	$657,120		$648,948		$1,869,069		$1,738,976
Solar Power Product [Member]	'		'		'		'
Revenue by Significant Category	'		'		'		'
Revenue	223,952		211,157		648,235		764,942
Solar Power Systems [Member]	'		'		'		'
Revenue by Significant Category	'		'		'		'
Revenue	378,477	[1]	400,757	[1]	1,083,002	[1]	886,755	[1]
Residential Leases [Member]	'		'		'		'
Revenue by Significant Category	'		'		'		'
Revenue	31,575		15,662		95,498		50,302
Others, revenue by category	'		'		'		'
Revenue by Significant Category	'		'		'		'
Revenue	$23,116	[2]	$21,372	[2]	$42,334	[2]	$36,977	[2]
[1]	Solar power systems represents revenue recognized in connection with our construction and development contracts.
[2]	Other revenue includes revenue related to our solar power services and solutions, such as post-installation systems monitoring and maintenance in connection with construction contracts, and commercial PPA agreements.