Solar Panel Cleaning Market Expected to Reach $1.1 Billion by 2031—Allied Market Research

According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, “Solar Panel Cleaning Market," The solar panel cleaning market size was valued at $0.6 billion in 2021, and is estimated to reach $1.1 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 6.8% from 2022 to 2031.

The energy from the sun is captured by a solar panel or photovoltaic solar panel, which then produces electricity to be used in end-use industries. For effective operation, these panels must be cleaned. In regions with heavy rainfall, solar panel cleaning can be delayed; but in dry regions, solar panel cleaning is indispensable. Solar panel cleaning solutions are required because the dust on PV panel surfaces has a significant impact on energy output and can reduce efficiency by up to 50% in dusty environments.

The market is primarily driven by the expanding global demand for energy, growing environmental awareness, and depletion of fossil fuels. Developing countries are experiencing increase in consumption for solar energy. The use of solar energy is being promoted by governments across the globe. This has led solar panel cleaning equipment manufacturers to start local production of robotic solar panel cleaning systems. This is anticipated to fuel the market for solar panel cleaning during the forecast period.

Further, high cost of cleaning systems and installations, requirement of a large workforce, and consumption of water are some of the factors, which are limiting the growth of the solar panel cleaning market. Above mentioned factors are estimated to hamper the solar panel cleaning market growth. In addition, solar panel installation has been escalating as a result of the increased need for clean, sustainable energy, which is further fueling market expansion. This factor is predicted to create remunerative opportunities for expansion of the solar panel cleaning market in the future.

The solar panel cleaning market analysis is segmented on the basis of technology, process, mode of operation, application, and region. On the basis of technology, it is classified into wet cleaning and dry cleaning. By process, the market is categorized into semi-automated, automated, water brushes, electrostatic, and automated robotic. On the basis of mode of operation, the market is classified into manual and autonomous. On the basis of application, it is divided into residential, commercial, industrial and utility, and others. Region-wise, the market is studied across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA

Key players operating in the global solar panel cleaning market forecast include, AX System, Clean Solar Solutions Ltd., Ecoppia, Ecovacs, Enel Green Power S.p.A, Heliotex, IP Cleaning Srl, Indisolar Products Private Limited, Parish Maintenance Supply, Pacific Panel Cleaners, LLC., Premier Solar Cleaning, SCM Solar, Sharp Corporation, Serbot AG, and Saint-Gobain Group.

Impact of COVID-19 on global solar panel cleaning market industry

The installation of solar panels for electricity generation, which was strongly dependent on China and India, as well as the world economy both, suffered from the health crisis brought on by the spread of COVID-19. Due to supply chain interruption and a lack of raw materials, manufacturing units were forced to shut down during the lockdown, and, in turn, negatively impacted the solar panel cleaning equipment market statistics.

In addition, a labor shortage caused supply chain issues in the U.S., which was a dominating country in the solar panel cleaning market, as well as a nation lockdown hampered industrial progress. Further, the disruptions to transport and logistics affected due to strict government regulations as well as nationwide lockdown, which led to a significant pause in delivering the product, rising shipment cost and price of fuel, taxes, workforce, and disruptions to shipping facilities.

However, it is anticipated that sales of solar panels for power generation will increase in the next years due to elements including supportive government policies and initiatives to fulfil expanding energy demand using renewable energy sources.

Key findings of the study

• By process, the semi-automated segment is estimated to display the highest growth rate, in terms of revenue, registering a CAGR of 7.1% from 2022 to 2031.
• By technology, the wet cleaning segment is anticipated to register the highest CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period.
• Asia-Pacific garnered the highest solar panel cleaning marketshare of 43% in 2021, in terms of revenue, growing at a CAGR of 7.2%.