Prime Group partners with Microsoft, Hanwha for edge infrastructure. Prime Group Holdings LLC has announced an ambitious plan to deploy a nationwide network of edge data centers and battery energy storage systems (BESS) across its existing U.S. property portfolio. The initiative, developed in collaboration with Microsoft and Qcells - a subsidiary of Hanwha - along with energy expertise from TransGrid Energy, aims to support the growing demand for real-time artificial intelligence (AI) applications. The project leverages Prime Group's extensive real estate footprint, which spans dense urban and suburban areas covering approximately 95% of the U.S. population. By utilizing these strategically located assets, the company is building a highly connected, low-latency infrastructure network capable of delivering fast, reliable data processing closer to end users. This proximity is critical for enabling next-generation AI services that require immediate response times. Traditionally, AI development has relied heavily on centralized data centers located far from users, primarily focused on training large-scale models. However, as AI adoption expands, there is increasing demand for "inference" - the real-time execution of trained models. Unlike training, inference benefits significantly from being performed closer to the point of use. Applications such as computer vision, speech recognition, and industrial automation require near-instant processing to function effectively, making edge infrastructure essential. To address this need, Prime Group is developing what it describes as a "Micro AI-Factory" network. These facilities are designed to deliver high-speed, low-latency performance while maintaining reliability across a distributed system. By decentralizing AI processing, the network aims to enhance responsiveness and reduce the delays associated with traditional cloud-based architectures. One of the key advantages of Prime Group's approach is its ability to utilize existing infrastructure. Rather than building entirely new "greenfield" data centers from scratch, the company is repurposing its current properties and leveraging available power capacity. This strategy significantly reduces the time required to bring new facilities online, enabling faster deployment compared to conventional data center development. In locations where additional energy capacity is needed, Prime Group is working with TransGrid Energy to integrate advanced power generation and storage solutions. These systems include battery energy storage technologies that help manage electricity demand, stabilize supply, and ensure continuous operation. By combining on-site generation with storage capabilities, the network can maintain performance even during periods of peak demand or grid instability. A notable feature of the initiative is the use of standardized AI infrastructure modules, referred to as AI factories. These facilities incorporate the open-source ontology WattSchema, which is designed to optimize energy usage and improve operational efficiency. By applying this framework, Prime Group aims to achieve industry-leading cost efficiency, measured in terms of performance per unit of energy consumed. Leadership at Prime Group has emphasized the strategic importance of integrating energy and data infrastructure. CEO Robert J. Moser noted that the company's nationwide presence and existing power resources create a unique opportunity to enhance asset value while supporting advanced technological applications. By combining Microsoft's cloud capabilities with Qcells' energy optimization technologies, the company expects to generate additional revenue streams, reduce peak energy demand, and contribute to overall grid stability. The collaboration with Microsoft plays a central role in enabling the network's capabilities. Through the integration of cloud services, the infrastructure can support real-time AI processing at the edge while maintaining seamless connectivity with centralized systems. This hybrid approach allows businesses to benefit from both local processing and cloud-based scalability, creating a flexible and efficient environment for deploying AI solutions. Energy efficiency is another critical component of the project. As AI workloads continue to grow, so does the demand for power. By incorporating advanced energy management systems and renewable energy technologies, the network is designed to minimize environmental impact while maintaining high performance. Qcells' expertise in energy generation and optimization, combined with TransGrid Energy's capabilities in power management, ensures that the infrastructure can operate sustainably and reliably. Industry experts have highlighted the importance of energy-aware operations in the context of decentralized AI. As more applications move to the edge, managing power consumption becomes increasingly complex. The integration of intelligent energy systems within the infrastructure helps address this challenge, enabling efficient use of resources while maintaining consistent performance. The initiative also reflects broader trends in both the technology and construction sectors. As digital transformation accelerates, there is growing demand for infrastructure that can support advanced applications such as AI, machine learning, and the Internet of Things. At the same time, there is increasing emphasis on sustainability and energy efficiency, driving the adoption of innovative solutions that combine digital and energy systems. By bringing together expertise from multiple industries, Prime Group's project represents a holistic approach to infrastructure development. The collaboration between real estate, technology, and energy companies demonstrates how integrated solutions can address complex challenges and create new opportunities for growth. Looking ahead, the deployment of this nationwide network is expected to play a significant role in enabling the next generation of AI applications. By providing low-latency, energy-efficient infrastructure, the system will support a wide range of use cases, from smart cities and autonomous systems to industrial automation and advanced analytics. Overall, the initiative by Prime Group Holdings LLC, in partnership with Microsoft and Qcells, marks a major step forward in the evolution of digital infrastructure. By combining existing assets with cutting-edge technologies, the project is poised to deliver scalable, efficient, and resilient solutions that meet the growing demands of an AI-driven world.

Prime Group to deploy Edge compute at self-storage sites across US. Company lists dozens of potential storage locations for potential Edge use cases April 22, 2026 Real estate firm Prime Group Holdings is set to deploy Edge data centers across the US. The company, which traditionally invested in self-storage properties, this week announced its digital infrastructure division will be deploying Edge data centers and battery energy storage systems (BESS) across numerous properties within its existing nationwide portfolio. Prime Group will be partnering with Microsoft and Hanwha subsidiaries Qcells and TransGrid Energy to create a "hyper-connected, low-latency network" focused on inference workloads. "By utilizing available power capacity and existing on-site infrastructure, Prime Group is well-positioned to support distributed solutions designed to meet the growing demands of AI-driven applications," the company said. "Prime Group's 'Micro AI Factory' network is designed to deliver the responsiveness and reliability that support applications such as computer vision, speech recognition, and industrial automation." Founded in 2013, Prime Group Holdings is a real estate private equity platform with a footprint across North America and the Caribbean. The company and its affiliates own and manage more than $10 billion of gross assets. Prime Group should not be confused with Prime Data Centers, an established data center developer that counts Macquarie Capital, Ares Management, Snowhawk, and Nuveen as investors. Prime Group is a major holder of self-storage assets, operating from 450 properties through its Prime Storage arm. Prime Group said its real estate footprint is in dense urban and suburban markets, close to approximately 95 percent of the US population. "Our national footprint and available power capacity create a compelling opportunity to enhance our assets through targeted energy and data infrastructure applications," said Robert J. Moser, CEO of Prime Group. "By integrating Microsoft Azure with Qcells' agentic energy optimization technologies, we are able to generate additional revenue, reduce peak energy demand, and support grid resiliency, all within the framework of assets we already own and operate." At locations where additional power capacity could be beneficial, Prime Group is leveraging TransGrid Energy for power generation and storage. "Reliable, energy-aware operations are essential for distributed AI," said Dr. Youngchoon Park, president of grid & energy services at Qcells. "Hanwha's energy generation deployment and optimization technologies will enable Prime Group's efforts to deploy responsive, grid-aligned AI facilities across the country," added Sean Park, president of TransGrid Energy. - Prime Storage Prime Group has launched a new website, The Edge, offering a number of Edge compute services across the US. The Edge's website lists 14 available 'hubs' across the US, including sites in Washington, California, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts. All listed locations are at Prime Group self-storage facilities. Dozens of smaller 'spoke' and 'satellite' locations are listed. Listed power at sites ranges from around 500kW to 13MW of 'available today' capacity - though most are below 1.5MW - with future sites listing available power ranging from 2.5MW to as much as 18MW, set to be deployed in several phases. Data center design firm Alosanar is listed as a project partner. Alosanar CEO Emmanuel Daniel also holds a role at Qcells North America. "Organizations increasingly need AI infrastructure that is both distributed and energy-aware," added Ulrich Homann, corporate vice president of cloud and AI at Microsoft. "Prime Group's approach demonstrates how Microsoft Azure can help support real-time AI applications at the edge while enabling efficient management of energy resources." More in Edge & iot.