Solar Panel Cleaning Market

Global Solar Panel Cleaning Market Size (2024 to 2029)

The size of the global solar panel cleaning market was worth USD 0.74 billion in 2023. The global market is estimated to reach USD 1.52 billion by 2029 from USD 0.83 billion in 2024, growing at a CAGR of 12.72% from 2024 to 2029.

A solar panel, also termed a photovoltaic solar panel, is a device that gathers energy from the sun and converts it into electricity. It is made up of many solar cells. It is necessary to clean the solar panel for it to perform properly. Solar panel cleaning is the process or method of removing materials such as ashes, dust, bird droppings, and other contaminants from the panel surface. The collected particles function as a barrier between the panel and the sunlight. The panels must be cleaned to retain their efficient output. Cleaning can be postponed in rainy locations, while cleaning is required in dry places. Solar panel cleaning is necessary for the commercial, industrial, and residential sectors. 

MARKET DRIVERS

The growing installations of solar panels and increasing initiatives from the governments of several countries to promote solar energy are driving the growth of the solar panel cleaning market.

The wet cleaning of solar panels is highly effective at cleaning panel surfaces and is low-cost and widely accessible, and this awareness among solar energy consumers is gradually increasing and contributing to the global market growth. Solar energy is becoming increasingly popular in developing countries. Several governments worldwide have taken numerous initiatives to boost the adoption of solar energy and increase the consumption of solar power, which are estimated to result in the increasing installations of solar panels and propelling the growth of the solar panel cleaning market. As a result, the frequency of solar panel cleaning has increased. This will fuel the solar panel cleaning market. In addition, many emerging economies are seeing an increase in demand for solar panels for power generation.

The rising awareness of dry cleaning solutions is supporting the global solar panel cleaning market.

Dry solar panel cleaning solutions are being developed to help alleviate global water constraints, which is adding fuel to the growth rate of the global solar panel cleaning market. Furthermore, the utilization of clean energy and the conservation of other natural resources is becoming more popular, and many businesses are turning to solar energy, which propels the global solar panel cleaning market growth. Moreover, the global solar panel cleaning market will rise as a result of an increase in large-scale solar installations across numerous coastal and agricultural regions with heavy soil and dust buildup.

The wet segment is very efficient in cleaning panel surfaces and is low-cost and easily accessible, further driving the global solar panel cleaning market. Solar energy is becoming more popular in developing countries. In addition, the government has encouraged the use of solar energy, which has resulted in a surge in solar panels and cleaning, which will fuel the solar panel cleaning industry. Many emerging economies are seeing an increase in demand for solar panels for power generation, in which the global solar panel cleaning market will experience major growth. The need for solar panel cleaning will be boosted by increased awareness about the use of clean energy, the protection of natural resources, and the adoption of solar energy by many businesses. In addition, the market will rise due to increased large-scale solar installations across numerous coastal and agricultural regions with heavy dust and soil deposition.

MARKET RESTRAINTS

Industrial and commercial Solar panel cleaning systems are difficult to implement since water and energy sources are rarely available near the solar panels. Because they may be on rooftops, carports, or off the ground, cleaning them might be risky. Because solar panel installers do not consider cleaning while designing the arrangement, each installation is unique. A large number of people entails a large amount of risk. With this cleaning system, there will be more accidents. With this approach, water consumption is substantially higher. An investment of USD 20,000 – $50,000 is required. Operators must be trained, and the robots might be large and heavy, necessitating the use of two to three operators. Inclination levels may be a problem. Therefore, these factors tend to hamper the global solar panel cleaning market growth during 2024 - 2029.

Impact Of COVID-19 on the Solar Panel Cleaning Market

The market for solar panel cleaning has been harmed as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic. During the COVID-19 pandemic, solar panel production in the industry was halted, lowering demand for solar panels and affecting the solar panel cleaning business. The worldwide supply chain was disrupted, and demand for solar panels fell in several countries, affecting the market for solar cleaning.

REPORT COVERAGE

SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS

Global Solar Panel Cleaning Market Analysis By Technology

The wet cleaning segment is anticipated to hold the largest global solar panel cleaning market share in the next six years. Because of its high effectiveness in cleaning panel surfaces and wide applicability and practicality across a wide range of soiling situations, the wet segment of the solar panel cleaning market is expected to increase significantly. Furthermore, the availability of organic compounds as a replacement for water-based cleaning processes will aid product acceptance. Furthermore, low unit cost, great reliability, and ease of access are some of the key attributes that will drive product demand.

Global Solar Panel Cleaning Market Analysis By Process

The automated segment is predicted to dominate the global solar panel cleaning market share during the forecast period. It works in a unique way since it uses several brush modifications to help clean some hard-to-reach areas in the panels more easily. Manufacturers are constantly researching and developing new technologies in order to improve the entire experience of solar farm owners by delivering personalized and flexible cleaning solutions.

Global Solar Panel Cleaning Market Analysis By Mode of Operation

According to the mode of operation, demand for autonomous solar panel cleaning will continue to expand in the future years. This is due to the exponential growth of current technologies such as remote sensing, machine learning, and remote management. In addition, there are various advantages to operating solar panels in autonomous mode, including better ease of use and lower setup costs, which will attract a huge number of users to do so. 

Global Solar Panel Cleaning Market Analysis By Application

The commercial application segment is expected to propel the global solar panel cleaning market forward. Industrial facilities in off-grid or remote regions can benefit from commercial solar panels. For example, signs and message boards can be illuminated using commercial solar panels mounted on building rooftops. Solar energy charges the battery, allowing the signs to be illuminated at all hours of the day and night, which further accelerates the market growth.

REGIONAL ANALYSIS

The market for solar panel cleaning in North America exceeded USD 70 million in 2019 and is expected to grow at a rate of over 10% per year through 2026. Favorable government tax incentives for solar PV adoption, particularly in residential and commercial buildings, will increase service demand. In addition, minimizing carbon emissions and deploying PV modules across practically all applications will further enhance the industry situation.

The Asia-Pacific market will increase due to its hot and humid climate, which provides a high number of sunny days, allowing for significant power-generating throughput. Because of their stronger industrial capabilities, countries like China and India will see the most installations. Furthermore, as the population grows, the government will be forced to change toward sustainable energy sources, supporting mass product adoption.

 KEY PLAYERS IN THE GLOBAL SOLAR PANEL CLEANING MARKET 

Companies playing a prominent role in the global solar panel cleaning market include Boson Robotics Ltd., Ecoppia, Karcher, Kashgar Solbright Photovoltaic Technology Co., Ltd., NOMADD, Premier Solar Cleaning, LLC, Saint-Gobain Surface Conditioning, Serbot AG, Sharp Corporation, SunBrush mobil GmbH.

RECENT HAPPENINGS IN THE MARKET

• Ecoppia announced that it is going to produce robotic solar cleaning tech in India and further added that it was delightful to become a success story for Israel for introducing leading technology in solar cleaning robotics. 
• On February 13th, 2020, Karcher decided to sign a PPA with NESF and Zestec for the sake of rooftop solar.

DETAILED SEGMENTATION OF THE SOLAR PANEL CLEANING MARKET IS INCLUDED IN THIS REPORT

This research report on the global solar panel cleaning market has been segmented and sub-segmented based on technology, process, mode of operation, application, and region.

By Technology

• Wet Cleaning
  • Automated
  • Water Brushes
  • Semi-Automated
• Dry Cleaning
  • Electrostatic
  • Automated Robotic

By Process

• Automated
• Semi-Automated
• Water Brushes
• Automated Robotic
• Electrostatic

By Mode of Operation

• Autonomous
• Manual

By Application

• Commercial
• Residential
• Industrial
• Utility

By Region

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East & Africa