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Long-term investments - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands |  |  | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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Dec. 09, 2020 USD ($) $ / instrument | Oct. 21, 2020 USD ($) | May 31, 2020 shares | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) $ / MWh windProject MWac turbine | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($) | Mar. 04, 2021 USD ($) windProject | Jan. 07, 2021 USD ($) shares | Dec. 31, 2020 CAD ($) $ / MWh windProject MWac | Jul. 02, 2020 CAD ($) | Dec. 30, 2019 USD ($) | May 31, 2019 USD ($) | May 31, 2019 CAD ($) | May 24, 2019 USD ($) | May 24, 2019 CAD ($)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investments |  |  |  | $ 186,452,000 | $ 82,111,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-controlling interest held by related party |  |  |  | 458,612,000 | 531,541,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-controlling interest calculated using the HLBV method of accounting |  |  |  | (67,286,000) | (62,416,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest income |  |  |  | 91,448,000 | 100,886,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value loss |  |  |  | 559,701,000 | 278,084,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments carried at fair value |  |  |  | 1,837,429,000 | 1,294,147,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling interest in partnerships and joint ventures |  |  |  | 186,452,000 | 82,111,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of support provided |  |  |  | 12,273,000 | 9,446,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Obligation to provide cash advances under purchase option agreement |  |  |  | 2,124,296,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Short-term debt |  |  |  | $ 194,478,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
San Antonio Water System |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity interest |  |  |  | 20.00% |  |  |  |  | 20.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest income |  |  |  | $ 2,113,000 | 6,007,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value loss |  |  |  | 117,000 | (6,007,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments carried at fair value |  |  |  | $ 0 | 27,072,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
San Antonio Water System, Joint Venture |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in joint venture |  |  |  |  | 1,500,000 |  |  |  |  | $ 1,581 |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interest acquired (percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |  |  |
San Antonio Water System, Joint Venture | Third party |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in joint venture |  |  |  |  | 1,500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
AWUSA | AIP |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest income |  |  |  |  | 6,007,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value loss |  |  |  |  | (6,007,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Exchange of notes receivable |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 30,293,000 |  |  |  |
Atlantica |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity interest |  |  |  | 44.20% |  |  |  |  | 44.20% |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investments |  |  |  | $ 1,036,414,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest income |  |  |  | 74,604,000 | 69,307,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value loss |  |  |  | 519,297,000 | 290,740,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments carried at fair value |  |  |  | $ 1,706,900,000 | 1,178,581,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Atlantica | Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity interest |  |  |  | 48.50% |  |  |  |  | 48.50% |  |  |  |  |  |
Atlantica | Subscription Share Purchase Agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subscription purchase agreement, share price (in USD) | $ / instrument | 33.00 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | $ 20,015,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Windlectric |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 91,918,000 | $ 123,603
Windlectric | AYES Canada |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,834,000 | 6,500
AYES Canada |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-controlling interest held by related party |  |  |  | $ 59,125,000 | 73,707,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 96,752,000 |  |  |
Option to exchange shares | shares |  |  | 3,500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest income |  |  |  | 14,731,000 | 25,572,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value loss |  |  |  | 20,272,000 | (6,649,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments carried at fair value |  |  |  | 110,514,000 | 88,494,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
AYES Canada | AIP |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-controlling interest held by related party |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 96,752,000 | $ 130,103 | $ 96,752,000 | $ 130,103
Non-controlling interest calculated using the HLBV method of accounting |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Distribution from interest in noncontrolling interest |  |  |  | $ 16,064,000 | $ 26,465,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Texas Wind Farms | Forecast |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investments |  |  |  |  |  | $ 103,642,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Red Lily I |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity interest |  |  |  | 75.00% |  |  |  |  | 75.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Wind facility capacity (megawatt AC) | $ / MWh |  |  |  | 26.4 |  |  |  |  | 26.4 |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Development Projects |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity interest |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Option to acquire remaining equity interest (percent) |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Sugar Creek |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Wind facility capacity (megawatt ac) | MWac |  |  |  | 202 |  |  |  |  | 202 |  |  |  |  |  |
Maverick |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Wind facility capacity (megawatt ac) | MWac |  |  |  | 492 |  |  |  |  | 492 |  |  |  |  |  |
Sugar Creek and North Fork Ridge |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of turbines commissioned | turbine |  |  |  | 111 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total number of turbines | turbine |  |  |  | 127 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Altavista |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Solar power capacity (megawatt ac) | MWac |  |  |  | 80 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Blue Hill |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Wind facility capacity (megawatt ac) | MWac |  |  |  | 175 |  |  |  |  | 175 |  |  |  |  |  |
Blue Hill | Joint Venture |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity interest |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in joint venture |  |  |  | $ 20,029,000 |  |  |  |  | $ 27,205 |  |  |  |  |  |
Southwestern Missouri Wind Projects |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of wind development projects | windProject |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |
Wind facility capacity (megawatt ac) | MWac |  |  |  | 150 |  |  |  |  | 150 |  |  |  |  |  |
Abengoa Investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payment for option to purchase investments |  | $ 1,500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Term of option to purchase investment |  | 12 months |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Obligation to provide cash advances under purchase option agreement |  | $ 7,233,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | Atlantica |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 132,688,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, shares acquired (shares) | shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,020,860 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | Texas Wind Farms |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity interest |  |  |  |  |  |  | 51.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investments |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 227,556,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of wind development projects acquired | windProject |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of wind development projects | windProject |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | Sugar Creek |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interest acquired (percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | Maverick |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interest acquired (percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | Sugar Creek and Maverick |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in joint venture |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 43,796,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | Sugar Creek and Maverick | Property, Plant and Equipment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in joint venture |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,009,709,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | Sugar Creek and Maverick | Construction Loan Payable |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Short-term debt |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 837,026,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | North Fork Ridge |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interest acquired (percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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