Qcells, Microsoft take solar alliance into AI power

21 / 08 / 2026

By Marwa Nassar - -

Qcells and Microsoft are expanding their partnership beyond solar supply to explore new ways of adding energy capacity alongside Microsoft’s growing data center footprint.

Under a proposed “bring-your-own-capacity” (BYOC) model, Qcells would develop and build new power capacity that could either serve Microsoft directly or be delivered to the local utility. Microsoft would fund the electricity required for its operations, helping match rising data center demand with new energy resources.

Qcells would bring its expertise in energy development, engineering, procurement, construction and grid orchestration to the initiative.

Batteries join mix:

The companies are also exploring virtual power plants (VPPs) that would aggregate residential and commercial batteries into a flexible energy resource.

During periods of peak demand, the batteries could feed electricity back into the grid, helping utilities manage pressure while allowing participating customers to benefit from lower energy bills and compensation for supporting grid operations.

Qcells plans to prioritize income-qualified households, with the aim of extending the benefits of AI infrastructure to communities where it is built. Microsoft Fabric and Azure would provide the data infrastructure needed to coordinate these distributed energy resources at scale.

From solar to AI infrastructure:

“As AI transforms the economy, we have an opportunity to rethink how the energy infrastructure supporting it is built,” said Andy Park, Global CEO of Qcells.

“Our relationship with Microsoft began with American-made solar manufacturing and construction. Now we’re exploring how we can build the energy capacity needed for AI while creating lasting value for the communities that share the grid.”

The companies began working together in 2023 under an agreement covering 2.5 gigawatts of American-made solar modules and engineering, procurement and construction services. They expanded the alliance to 12 gigawatts in 2024, creating what they described as the largest solar supply and EPC agreement of its kind.

The latest collaboration marks the next phase of the relationship as Qcells and Microsoft explore new approaches to meeting the energy needs of America’s expanding AI infrastructure.