v3.10.0.1

Schedule I, Condensed Financial Statements, of condensed cash flow statements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Condensed cash flow statements [Abstract] |  |  |
Cash Flow from operating activities | $ 401,043 | $ 385,623 | $ 334,418
Cash Flow-investing activities [Abstract] |  |  |
B. Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities | (14,860) | 71,368 | (26,359)
Cash Flow-financing activities [Abstract] |  |  |
Dividend paid to shareowner | (143,034) | (99,483) | (35,509)
C. Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities | (405,231) | (416,327) | (226,103)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | (19,048) | 40,664 | 81,956
Cash, cash equivalents and bank overdrafts at beginning of the year | 669,387 | 594,811 | 514,712
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year | 631,542 | 669,387 | 594,811
Parent Company [Member] |  |  |
Condensed cash flow statements [Abstract] |  |  |
Cash Flow from operating activities | (30,571) | 34,937 | 5,911
Cash Flow-investing activities [Abstract] |  |  |
Decrease (increase) in investment and advance to affiliates | 66,069 | 151,033 | 97,341
Net decrease (increase) in other assets | 0 | 0 | 0
B. Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities | 66,069 | 151,033 | 97,341
Cash Flow-financing activities [Abstract] |  |  |
Net increase/(decrease) in borrowings and other liabilities | 56,000 | (64,754) | 0
Dividend paid to shareowner | (133,289) | (94,845) | (26,585)
Capital increase and other | 0 | 0 | 0
C. Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities | (77,289) | (159,599) | (26,585)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | (41,791) | 26,371 | 76,667
Cash, cash equivalents and bank overdrafts at beginning of the year | 148,525 | 122,154 | 45,487
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year | $ 106,734 | $ 148,525 | $ 122,154

X
- Definition Amount of decrease (increase) in the investments in and advances to affiliates. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aby_DecreaseIncreaseInInvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliates
Namespace Prefix: | aby_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of decrease (increase) in other assets, classified as investing activities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aby_NetDecreaseIncreaseInOtherAssetsClassifiedAsInvestingActivities
Namespace Prefix: | aby_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) from borrowing and other liabilities, classified as financing activities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aby_NetIncreaseDecreaseInBorrowingsAndOtherLiabilities
Namespace Prefix: | aby_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The cash inflow from issuing shares and other financing activities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aby_ProceedsFromIssuingSharesAndOtherFinancingActivities
Namespace Prefix: | aby_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of cash on hand and demand deposits, along with short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and that are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value. [Refer: Cash; Cash equivalents] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 7 -IssueDate 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 45 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=7&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_45&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 12 -IssueDate 2018-01-01 -Paragraph B13 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=12&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_B13_a&doctype=Appendix&seq=2 -URIDate 2018-03-16 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 54 -Subparagraph i -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_54_i&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_CashAndCashEquivalents
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The cash flows from (used in) financing activities, which are activities that result in changes in the size and composition of the contributed equity and borrowings of the entity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 7 -IssueDate 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=7&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_10&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 7 -IssueDate 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 50 -Subparagraph d -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=7&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_50_d&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_CashFlowsFromUsedInFinancingActivities
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_CashFlowsFromUsedInFinancingActivitiesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The cash flows from (used in) investing activities, which are the acquisition and disposal of long-term assets and other investments not included in cash equivalents. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 7 -IssueDate 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=7&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_10&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 7 -IssueDate 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 50 -Subparagraph d -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=7&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_50_d&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_CashFlowsFromUsedInInvestingActivities
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_CashFlowsFromUsedInInvestingActivitiesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The cash flows from (used in) operating activities, which are the principal revenue-producing activities of the entity and other activities that are not investing or financing activities. [Refer: Revenue] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 7 -IssueDate 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=7&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_10&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 7 -IssueDate 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 50 -Subparagraph d -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=7&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_50_d&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_CashFlowsFromUsedInOperatingActivities
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The cash outflow for dividends paid to equity holders of the parent, classified as financing activities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 7 -IssueDate 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 17 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=7&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_17&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DividendsPaidToEquityHoldersOfParentClassifiedAsFinancingActivities
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents before the effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents held in foreign currencies. [Refer: Cash and cash equivalents; Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 7 -IssueDate 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 45 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=7&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_45&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_IncreaseDecreaseInCashAndCashEquivalentsBeforeEffectOfExchangeRateChanges
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_StatementOfCashFlowsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ConsolidatedAndSeparateFinancialStatementsAxis=ifrs-full_ParentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |