The amount of an award for damages sought by a plaintiff in a legal matter.

No definition available.

Name:	aby_DamagesSoughtAmount
Namespace Prefix:	aby_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The designation of funds of the entity to assure future payments by the entity for obligations related to a specified contingency.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aby_LossContingencyEscrowDeposit
Namespace Prefix:	aby_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The estimated maximum amount of loss from a specified contingency as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aby_LossContingencyEstimableMaximumPossibleLoss
Namespace Prefix:	aby_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount awarded to other party in a judgement or through agreement between the entity and another party for the settlement of litigation

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aby_LossContingencySettlementAmountAwardedToOtherParty
Namespace Prefix:	aby_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aby_TradePayablesAndOtherCurrentLiabilitiesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	aby_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of current deposits from customers. [Refer: Deposits from customers]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 55
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_55&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_CurrentDepositsFromCustomers
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_LegalProceedingsProvisionAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of current payables that the entity does not separately disclose in the same statement or note.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_OtherCurrentPayables
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of current trade payables and current other payables. [Refer: Current trade payables; Other current payables]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 54
-Subparagraph k
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_54_k&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_TradeAndOtherCurrentPayables
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The current amount of payment due to suppliers for goods and services used in entity's business. [Refer: Current liabilities; Trade payables]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 78
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_78&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2018-01-01
-Paragraph 70
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_70&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2018-03-16

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_TradeAndOtherCurrentPayablesToTradeSuppliers
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=aby_AbengoaSAMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_GeographicalAreasAxis=country_MX
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ClassesOfContingentLiabilitiesAxis=aby_PemexLegalProceedingsClaimantMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ClassesOfContingentLiabilitiesAxis=aby_ArbIncorporatedLegalProceedingsClaimantMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_NonadjustingEventsAfterReportingPeriodAxis=aby_SubsequentEventsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ClassesOfContingentLiabilitiesAxis=aby_GroupOfInsuranceCompaniesLegalProceedingsClaimantMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_RangeAxis=ifrs-full_TopOfRangeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ClassesOfContingentLiabilitiesAxis=aby_SolanaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Trade payables and other current liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Trade payables and other current liabilities [Abstract]
Trade accounts payable		$ 82,038	$ 107,662
Down payments from clients		6,387	6,466
Other accounts payable		45,207	41,016
Total		133,632	$ 155,144
Abengoa [Member] \| Mexico [Member]
Legal Proceedings [Abstract]
Estimated maximum potential exposure		30,000
Amount held in escrow		2,500
Pemex [Member]
Legal Proceedings [Abstract]
Estimated claims		20,000
Arb Inc. [Member]
Legal Proceedings [Abstract]
Estimated claims		33,000
Arb Inc. [Member] \| Subsequent Events [Member]
Legal Proceedings [Abstract]
Amount of settlement payments	$ 6,600
Group of Insurance Companies [Member] \| Top of Range [Member]
Legal Proceedings [Abstract]
Estimated claims		200,000
Solana [Member]
Legal Proceedings [Abstract]
Estimated claims		$ 20,000