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- Narrative (Detail) |  |  |  |  | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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Mar. 24, 2017 CAD Tranche | Feb. 08, 2017 USD ($) | Jan. 01, 2017 USD ($) Tranche | Dec. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 CAD | Dec. 31, 2016 CAD | Feb. 23, 2018 USD ($) | Feb. 15, 2018 CAD | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 21, 2017 CAD | Oct. 06, 2017 CAD | Oct. 06, 2017 USD ($) | Oct. 05, 2017 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2017 CAD | Sep. 20, 2017 CAD | Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) | Mar. 14, 2017 USD ($) | Jan. 17, 2017 CAD | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Oct. 25, 2016 USD ($) | Jan. 08, 2016 CAD | Jan. 08, 2016 USD ($) | Jan. 04, 2016 USD ($) bank
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Short-term Debt | CAD |  |  |  |  | CAD 264,214,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maturity date |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2.33% |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes payable | CAD |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | CAD 669,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repayment of long-term debt | CAD |  |  |  |  | 3,131,717,000 | CAD 68,423,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest on long term debt | CAD |  |  |  |  | 41,479,000 | 27,225,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest expense during the year on long-term liabilities | CAD |  |  |  |  | 185,339,000 | 87,143,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured Notes | Senior Unsecured Debenture Due February 2027 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Par value | CAD |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | CAD 300,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Maturity date |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4.09% |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, sales price ratio |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0.99929 |  |  |  |  |
Senior Unsecured Notes | Bella Vista Water Loans |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repayment of long-term debt |  | $ 707,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Bonds |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Par value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 500,000,000 |  |  |
Senior Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Par value | CAD | CAD 750,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, number of tranches | Tranche | 6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, weighted average life | 15 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted average coupon | 4.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Effective weighted average interest rate | 3.60% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Letter of Credit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity |  |  |  |  | CAD 50,000,000 |  |  |  | $ 30,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, term |  |  |  |  | 1 year |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revolving Credit Facility | Senior Unsecured Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted average coupon |  |  |  |  | 0.00% |  |  |  | 0.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revolving Credit Facility | Senior Unsecured Notes | APUC Senior Unsecured Revolving Facility Maturing November 2017 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity | CAD |  |  |  |  |  | CAD 65,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | CAD 165,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revolving Credit Facility | Senior Unsecured Notes | Liberty Utilities Senior Unsecured Revolving Facility Maturing September 2018 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 200,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revolving Credit Facility | Senior Unsecured Notes | Empire Revolving Credit Facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 200,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revolving Credit Facility | Senior Unsecured Notes | Liberty Power Bilateral Revolving Credit Facility Maturing August 2018 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 500,000,000 | $ 350,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revolving Credit Facility | Senior Unsecured Notes | St. Damase Wind Facility Revolving Credit Facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 4,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amount draw on credit facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,900,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revolving Credit Facility | Senior Unsecured Notes | Algonquin Power Senior Unsecured Revolving Facility Maturing July 2019 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity | CAD |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | CAD 600,000,000 | CAD 150,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Line of Credit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 235,000,000
Line of credit facility, number of banks | bank |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2
Line of Credit | Acquisition Facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceed from long-term lines of credit |  |  |  | $ 1,336,440,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, cash held by paying agent |  |  |  | 1,495,774,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Line of Credit | Bridge Loan | Acquisition Facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceed from long-term lines of credit |  |  | $ 1,336,440,000 | $ 1,336,440,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Corporate Term Facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Repayment of debt | CAD | CAD 100,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | Revolving Credit Facility | Senior Unsecured Notes | Empire Revolving Credit Facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 500,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | Revolving Credit Facility | Senior Unsecured Notes | Algonquin Power Senior Unsecured Revolving Facility Maturing July 2019 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity | CAD |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | CAD 200,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Park Water Company |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt | CAD |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | CAD 146,727,000 |  |
Park Water Company | Bonds |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 63,000,000 |  |  | $ 65,000,000 |  |  |  |
Park Water Company | Revolving Credit Facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 4,250,000 |
Park Water Company | Line of Credit | Non-Revolving Term Credit Facility |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 22,500,000 |
Empire |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt | CAD |  |  |  |  | CAD 1,218,563,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Empire | U.S. Dollar Senior Unsecured Utility Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  | $ 102,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, number of tranches | Tranche |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Empire | Secured Utility Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  | $ 733,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, number of tranches | Tranche |  |  | 10 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deerfield SponsorCo | Construction Loans |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 262,219,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Minimum | Senior Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, term | 3 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Minimum | Empire | U.S. Dollar Senior Unsecured Utility Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maturity date |  |  | 6.70% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Minimum | Empire | Secured Utility Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maturity date |  |  | 3.58% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum | Senior Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, term | 30 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum | Empire | U.S. Dollar Senior Unsecured Utility Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maturity date |  |  | 5.80% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maximum | Empire | Secured Utility Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maturity date |  |  | 6.82% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commercial Paper | Empire |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Short term commercial paper program assumed in acquisition |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 150,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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- Definition Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Liabilities, Short-term Debt + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Debt Instrument, Cash Held by Paying Agent + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Debt Instrument, Number Of Tranches + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Debt Instrument, Sales Price, Ratio + References No definition available. + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type: | na
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- Definition Debt Instrument, Weighted Average LIfe + References No definition available. + Details
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Balance Type: | na
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- Definition Interest Expense on Long-Term Liabilities, Net of Proceeds + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Line of Credit Facility, Number of Banks + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | aqunf_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
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- Definition Amount of long-term debt due after one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, assumed at the acquisition date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84161108&loc=d3e4845-128472 + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
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Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 55 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399 + Details
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Balance Type: | credit
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- Definition Amount of interest payable on debt, including, but not limited to, trade payables. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.15(5)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.15(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
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