XML 147 R103.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.20.4

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Intangible Assets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019
--- | --- | ---
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract] |  |  |
Gross Balance |  | $ 1,070 | $ 707
Accumulated Amortization |  | (330) | (307)
Net Balance |  | 740 | 400
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) |  | 87 | 69
Indefinite- lived intangible assets, Amortization |  | 0 | 0
Intangible Assets, Gross |  | 1,157 | 776
Intangible Assets, Net |  | 827 | 469
Land Use Rights [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract] |  |  |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) |  | 39 | 21
Indefinite- lived intangible assets, Amortization |  | 0 | 0
Water rights |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract] |  |  |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) |  | 20 | 20
Indefinite- lived intangible assets, Amortization |  | 0 | 0
Transmission Rights [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract] |  |  |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) |  | 22 | 23
Indefinite- lived intangible assets, Amortization |  | 0 | 0
Other |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract] |  |  |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) |  | 6 | 5
Indefinite- lived intangible assets, Amortization |  | 0 | 0
Computer Software, Intangible Asset [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract] |  |  |
Gross Balance |  | 386 | 367
Accumulated Amortization |  | (255) | (228)
Net Balance |  | 131 | 139
Emission allowances [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract] |  |  |
Gross Balance |  | 64 | 24
Accumulated Amortization |  | 0 | 0
Net Balance |  | 64 | 24
Project Development Rights [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract] |  |  |
Gross Balance |  | 203 | 100
Accumulated Amortization |  | (5) | (1)
Net Balance |  | 198 | 99
Contracts |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract] |  |  |
Gross Balance |  | 157 | 134
Accumulated Amortization |  | (38) | (29)
Net Balance |  | 119 | 105
Other |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract] |  |  |
Gross Balance |  | 59 | 43
Accumulated Amortization |  | (14) | (14)
Net Balance | [1] | 45 | 29
Compensation from Concession Agreement |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract] |  |  |
Gross Balance |  | 201 | 39
Accumulated Amortization |  | (18) | (35)
Net Balance |  | $ 183 | $ 4
[1] | Acquired or purchased emissions allowances are finite-lived intangible assets that are expensed when utilized and included in net income for the year. (3)Includes management rights, renewable energy credits and incentives, and other individually insignificant intangible assets.

X
- Definition Indefinite- lived intangible assets, Amortization + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aes_IndefinitelivedintangibleassetsAmortization
Namespace Prefix: | aes_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount before amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 928 -SubTopic 340 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6473545&loc=d3e61844-108004 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount after amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 926 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120154696&loc=d3e54445-107959 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNetAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance and having a projected indefinite period of benefit. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount before accumulated amortization of intangible assets, excluding goodwill. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Sum of the carrying amounts of all intangible assets, excluding goodwill, as of the balance sheet date, net of accumulated amortization and impairment charges. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph ((a)(1),(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16212-109274 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_UseRightsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=aes_WaterRightsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=aes_TransmissionRightsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=aes_OtherIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_ComputerSoftwareIntangibleAssetMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=aes_EmissionAllowancesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=aes_ProjectDevelopmentRightsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_CustomerContractsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=aes_CompensationFromConcessionAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |