XML 92 R78.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.3.1.900

INVESTMENTS IN AFFILIATES (Details 3) $ in Thousands |  |  |  |  | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 08, 2015 USD ($) | May. 23, 2012 USD ($) | Jul. 04, 2011 USD ($) | Dec. 17, 2009 USD ($) item | Dec. 31, 2014 | Aug. 31, 2013 USD ($) item | Sep. 30, 2012 USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2012 | Jun. 30, 2013 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Investments in affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash consideration for acquisition of the entity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 84,389 | $ 72 | $ 4,278
Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.00% |  |  |  |
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated investees |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (643) | $ 487 | $ (3,064)
Gaochuangte |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  | 40.00% |  |  |  |  | 40.00% | 40.00% |
GCL-CSI (Suzhou) Photovoltaic Technology Co., Ltd. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  | 10.00% |  |  |  |  | 10.00% | 10.00% |
CSI Skypower |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash consideration for acquisition of the entity |  | $ 3,429 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  | 50.00% | 50.00% |  |  |  | 50.00% | 50.00% |
Number of board members designated by the acquired entity | item |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of board members | item |  |  |  |  |  | 4 |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash consideration for acquisition of the interest |  |  |  |  |  | $ 4,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
City Light |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.00% |  |
Suzhou Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.00% |  |
Tranquillity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 49.00% |  |
Roserock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 49.00% |  |
Garland |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 49.00% |  |
SZCC, or CSI Cells | Gaochuangte |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash consideration for acquisition of the entity |  |  |  | $ 2,929 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  |  |  | 40.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of board members designated by the acquired entity | item |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of board members | item |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash consideration for acquisition of the interest |  |  | $ 3,119 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
SZSP | GCL-CSI (Suzhou) Photovoltaic Technology Co., Ltd. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash consideration for acquisition of the entity |  |  | $ 2,549 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  |  | 10.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
SZSP | Suzhou Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash consideration for acquisition of the interest | $ 13,860 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Voting interest hold (as a percent) | 6.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
USPH | 2 separate utility-scale solar power projects |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  | 5.00% |  |  |  |  |  | 5.00% |
Percentage of interest sold |  |  |  |  | 95.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
USPH | City Light |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of interest sold |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 95.00% |  |  |  |
USPH | Utility scale solar power projects |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash consideration for acquisition of the interest |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 15,875 |  | $ 5,791 |  |  |
USPH | Utility scale solar power projects | Minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  | 21.00% |  |  |  |  |
USPH | Utility scale solar power projects | Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments in affiliates |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  | 30.00% |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the cost method of accounting. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | csiq_CostMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | csiq_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | csiq_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentageSold
Namespace Prefix: | csiq_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied, net of income tax or benefit. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | csiq_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestmentsNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix: | csiq_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number of board members. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | csiq_NumberOfBoardMembers
Namespace Prefix: | csiq_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number of board members designated by the acquired entity. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | csiq_NumberOfBoardMembersDesignatedByTheAcquiredEntity
Namespace Prefix: | csiq_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The cash outflow associated with the purchase of or advances to an equity method investments, which are investments in joint ventures and entities in which the entity has an equity ownership interest normally of 20 to 50 percent and exercises significant influence. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3213-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireEquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The cash outflow associated with the investment in or advances to an entity in which the reporting entity shares control of the entity with another party or group. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3213-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInterestInJointVenture
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=csiq_SuzhouGaochuangteNewEnergyCoLtdMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=csiq_GCLCSISuzhouPhotovoltaicTechnologyCoLtdMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=csiq_CSISkyPowerMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=csiq_CityLightLpMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=csiq_SuzhouFinancialLeasingCoLtdMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=csiq_ReTranquillityHoldingsLlcMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=csiq_ReRoserockHoldingsLlcMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=csiq_ReGarlandHoldingsLlcMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=csiq_CSICellsCoLtdMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=csiq_CSISolarPowerChinaIncMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=csiq_CSIProjectHoldcoLLCMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=csiq_TwoSoltasSolarPowerProjectsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=csiq_UtilityScaleSolarPowerProjectsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |