Nature of the business, Description (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands |
3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mar. 09, 2018 |
Jun. 18, 2014
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
|
Mar. 31, 2018 |
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
ConcessionalAsset
|
|
| Nature of the business [Abstract] | ||||
| Shares issued (in shares) | shares | 24,850,000 | |||
| Share price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | $ 29 | |||
| Proceeds from issuing shares | $ 720,650 | |||
| Subsidiary of Abengoa [Member] | ||||
| Nature of the business [Abstract] | ||||
| Shares purchased by underwriters (in shares) | shares | 3,727,500 | |||
| Total proceeds from offering | $ 828,748 | |||
| Algonquin [Member] | ||||
| Nature of the business [Abstract] | ||||
| Ownership interest | 25.00% | |||
| Abengoa [Member] | ||||
| Nature of the business [Abstract] | ||||
| Ownership interest | 16.50% | 16.47% | ||
| Number of concessional assets contributed | ConcessionalAsset | 10 | |||
| Interest consideration transferred | 64.28% | |||
| Cash consideration transferred | $ 655,300 | |||
| Cash retained for liquidity purposes | $ 30,000 |