Aerial PV Inspection

What Aerial PV Inspection does

Aerial PV Inspection GmbH (AePVI) is a German professional services firm founded in 2017 in Aachen that provides non-destructive, on-site quality inspection of solar photovoltaic (PV) plants using drone- and tripod-based sensor systems. The company's core technology combines electroluminescence (EL) imaging, infrared thermography, UV-fluorescence measurements, and IV-curve recording, with machine learning used to automate fault categorization from captured images. Its product portfolio includes AirBridgeONE for high-precision cell-level EL analysis, AirLabONE for high-volume EL analysis (up to 1,000 images per hour), and AePVISwitch for automated 100% screening or strategic sampling; the company positions aerial EL testing as the most cost-efficient method for early detection of potential-induced degradation (PID) in solar PV systems.

AePVI sells primarily to solar developers and operators of utility-scale PV plants, with a secondary customer base of independent PV testing and consulting firms. The company executes a B2B enterprise field sales motion, delivering inspection services directly on-site at customer plant locations worldwide, with quote-based pricing tied to project scope, plant size, and inspection type. The company maintains a small partner network (Drobotec, PVInsight, 2degreeskelvin, PV Service Pro, Hilger) and a strategic partnership with Photovoltaik-Institut Berlin AG (PI Berlin) for European PV quality assessments. As of February 17, 2026, AePVI was acquired by Intertek Group plc, a UK-headquartered global Total Quality Assurance provider, and was integrated into Intertek's Clean Energy and Automotive (CEA) business line to extend factory-to-field solar assurance capabilities.

Name

Aerial PV Inspection

Legal name

Aerial PV Inspection GmbH

Website

https://aepvi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Aerial PV Inspection (AePVI) provides drone- and tripod-based electroluminescence, thermography, and IV-curve inspection services for solar PV plants, serving solar developers and operators with non-destructive quality assurance and PID detection. The company was acquired by Intertek Group in February 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Photovoltaic Inspection Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Inspection Services (Ground, Aerial/Drone, Helicopter, Climbing) (EUADAJAC)

Keywords

• Drone solar inspection
• Electroluminescence analysis
• Photovoltaic quality assurance
• PV thermography services
• UAV inspection services

Headquarters

HQ city

Aachen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Inspection Services: On-site drone and tripod-based inspection services for solar PV systems including electroluminescence analysis, thermography, and combined measurements. Services are provided for both 100% screening and systematic sampling approaches, with pricing likely project-based depending on plant size and inspection scope.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Aerial PV Inspection (AePVI) provides on-site drone-based and tripod-based inspection and diagnostic services for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems worldwide. The company combines electroluminescence (EL) imaging, thermography, UV-fluorescence measurements, and IV-curve recording to detect and locate faults such as cell cracks, defective bypass diodes, PID, and hail damage without dismantling modules. Services are delivered directly to solar developers and operators using proprietary systems (AirBridgeONE, AirLabONE, AePVISwitch), supporting both systematic sampling and 100% screening for PV plants of any size.

Product overview

Aerial PV Inspection (AePVI) offers a smart inspection concept for PV plants worldwide, providing comprehensive quality control without module dismantling. The core offering combines and automates classic and preventive inspections using image-based methods (electroluminescence, thermography, UV-fluorescence) and electrical measurements (IV-curves, isolation checks). The product portfolio includes AirBridgeONE for high-precision EL analysis, AirLabONE for high-volume EL analysis (up to 1,000 images/hour), and AePVISwitch for automated remote-controlled measurements. Services range from systematic sampling to 100% screening using tripod- and drone-based sensor systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AirBridgeONE: High precision electroluminescence analysis drone-based system.
• AirLabONE
• AePVISwitch

Products and services

• Aerial PV Inspection (AePVI) Service On-site drone-based and tripod-based solar PV inspection and diagnostic service combining electroluminescence analysis, thermography, UV-fluorescence measurements, and IV-curve recording to detect and locate faults in photovoltaic systems without dismantling modules. Available for PV plants of any size worldwide.
• AirBridgeONE

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 1,000 images per hour capture rate for large-scale PV plants
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Photovoltaik-Institut Berlin AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership where AePVI provides professional EL imaging services as a compliment to PI Berlin's PV plant quality assessments. PI Berlin considers AePVI a valuable partner for the European market.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Reclamet Inspection: Offers aerial inspection and defect analysis for PV power plants using drones and thermography, with a European footprint. Directly comparable service model and customer base to AePVI.
• Skyven Technologies: Specializes in drone-based solar panel inspection using IR and visual imaging for asset performance diagnostics. Comparable aerial inspection technology and enterprise solar customer focus.
• Photovoltaik-Institut Berlin AG (PI Berlin): Independent technical consultancy and testing institute for PV plant quality, performance and risk assessment. Listed as a core AePVI partner; competes and complements in the European PV QA market.
• Heliolytics: Provides drone-based aerial thermography and PV plant inspection services for solar operators. Direct comparable to AePVI in target customer (solar developers/operators) and core offering (drone + IR inspection of utility-scale PV plants).
• Solar PT (Solar Power Technologies): Provides solar PV inspection, thermography and quality assurance services to PV asset owners and operators. Closely comparable inspection service model and target market.

Emerging players

• Above (formerly DroneDeploy Inspection / Above Inspection): Drone-based infrastructure inspection software and services including solar PV plant assessments. Adjacent technology overlap (aerial imagery + analytics) targeting similar enterprise customers.

Broad incumbents

• TÜV Rheinland (Solar / Photovoltaic Services): Global testing, inspection and certification firm with dedicated solar/PV service line including plant acceptance testing and performance verification. Broad incumbent competing across AePVI's quality-assurance domain.
• TÜV SÜD (Solar Energy Services): International testing and certification provider with PV plant inspection, performance assessment and yield analysis services. Comparable service scope targeting solar developers and investors.
• DNV (Energy Systems / Solar): Global energy consultancy and certification body providing solar plant QA, technical due diligence and O&M advisory. Broader incumbent offering competing PV inspection and certification services at scale.
• UL Solutions (Solar / Renewables): Global safety science and certification company offering PV module and system testing, certification and field services. Broader portfolio but overlapping PV quality assurance customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aepvi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aerial PV Inspection