Inspect solar parks in just a few hours with Outflier: How this startup cuts inspection costs by 80%

Published on: September 12, 2025 / Updated on: September 12, 2025 – Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

80% faster: How an enterprise AI platform is revolutionizing the processes of a global real estate company – Image: Outflier

The future of solar maintenance is here: How self-learning AI detects every defect

Hidden errors, huge losses: How smart drones save the performance of solar systems

At a time when solar energy plays a key role in the energy transition, efficient maintenance of photovoltaic systems is becoming increasingly crucial for their economic viability and longevity. However, traditional manual inspections are often slow, costly, and error-prone. This is precisely where the French startup Outflier comes in, revolutionizing the industry with a fully automated, AI-powered drone solution. Founded in Paris in 2021, the company combines autonomous drone flights with a unique software suite called "Outboard" to inspect solar systems faster, more affordably, and more precisely than ever before.

At the heart of the technology is a self-learning, contextual artificial intelligence that, unlike conventional systems, does not require a predefined error database. It adapts to each individual solar system and reliably detects a wide range of anomalies – from thermal hotspots and shading caused by vegetation to structural damage. The results are impressive: Inspection costs can be reduced by up to 80%, while efficiency increases massively. A task that would take manual teams days to complete is completed by the Outflier system in just a few hours. Thus, the company delivers not only a technological innovation but also a crucial tool for operators to maximize the yield of their systems and ensure proactive maintenance throughout their entire lifecycle.

AI-supported drone optimization – the future of photovoltaic maintenance

Outflier is a French startup based in Paris, founded in 2021, specializing in automated drone-based inspection solutions for photovoltaic systems. With its "Outboard" software suite, the company offers a comprehensive turnkey solution for solar system inspections – from data acquisition to corrective maintenance. A particular advantage is the Outflier app's high level of user-friendliness, enabling simple and intuitive use – even for users without in-depth technical knowledge.

Core features of the Outflier platform

: Automated inspection planning and execution – Image: Outflier

: Comprehensive data analysis and visualization - Image: Outflier

Automated inspection planning and execution

Automatic flight planning for optimal route coverage
Managing flight permits to comply with regulatory requirements
Fully automatic drone flights without manual piloting

AI-based anomaly detection

Outflier relies on unsupervised artificial intelligence (Unsupervised AI), which offers the following unique selling points:

Adaptive learning technology: The system learns and adapts specifically to each inspection point
Database-free functionality: Unlike conventional systems, AI does not require a predefined defect database
Universal compatibility: Works with all types of solar systems and panel types

Comprehensive data analysis and visualization

Photorealistic 3D modeling of the entire facility
Thermographic analysis according to industry standards
Layout planning and regulatory assessments
Spatial and temporal localization of anomalies

Unique advantages for the photovoltaic industry

Technological superiority

Contextual AI technology

Outflier uses adaptive generative AI for anomaly detection, which differs from traditional data-dependent systems. This technology detects and automatically classifies both thermal and visual anomalies.

Comprehensive defect detection

The system can identify a wide variety of problems:

Metal objects that affect performance
Plant growth between solar cells
Hotspots caused by defective solar cells
Contamination and shading
Structural damage

Economical advantages

Drastic cost reduction: Studies show that AI-based aerial inspections can reduce the cost of photovoltaic defect detection by up to 80%. Traditional manual inspections can take months, while drone inspections take only a few days.
Increased efficiency: A drone inspection can cover up to 2 km² per hour and fully survey large solar farms in just a few hours. By comparison, a manual inspection of a 6-8 MW solar farm traditionally takes several days, but with Outflier technology, it can be completed in 3-4 hours.

Surgical advantages

Collaborative platform: The intuitive user interface enables seamless collaboration between teams and experts with detailed reporting. All inspection points and reports can be centrally managed and viewed.
Lifecycle management: The system supports plant operators throughout the entire life cycle of their solar systems – from utility-scale systems to agrivoltaics and rooftop systems.
Proactive maintenance: By continuously monitoring system quality over time, operators can initiate preventive maintenance measures before major damage occurs.

Market position and competitive advantages

Outflier is positioning itself in a growing market – the global photovoltaic market is expected to grow from $253.69 billion in 2023 to $436.36 billion by 2032. The demand for efficient inspection solutions is increasing accordingly.

Differentiation from competitors: While traditional inspection providers often rely on static databases or manual evaluations, Outflier offers a self-learning AI solution that automatically adapts to different asset types. This significantly reduces the effort required to configure new projects.
Industry acceptance: The company regularly presents itself at important industry trade fairs such as Intersolar Europe and Key Energy, which indicates growing market acceptance.

The future of solar maintenance is here: How self-learning AI detects every defect

Outflier is revolutionizing photovoltaic inspection by combining drone technology and contextual AI. The solution offers the industry significant cost and time savings while simultaneously increasing the accuracy of defect detection. In particular, the adaptive AI technology, which does not require predefined databases and can adapt to different system types, represents a significant technological advance that significantly improves the scalability and cost-effectiveness of solar inspections.