China’s PV Cleaning Service Market Continues to Expand, Reaching 50 Billion Yuan
— Intelligence and Refinement Become Key Industry Trends, with Multifit Electrical Leading Technological Innovation
Introduction
As the global energy structure accelerates its transition toward clean and low carbon sources, China’s photovoltaic (PV) industry has sustained rapid growth, with installed capacity ranking first in the world for many consecutive years. Driven by the demand for refined operation and maintenance (O&M) of power stations, PV cleaning services – a critical link in improving power generation efficiency and extending equipment lifespan – have seen their market size expand quickly. In 2024, the market size of China’s PV cleaning service industry reached 50 billion yuan, and the sector is moving from a “rough and ready” approach toward a new stage of “standardisation, refinement and intelligence”.
Installed Capacity Surges, Solidifying Demand for Cleaning Services
According to data from the National Energy Administration, from 2013 to 2024, the country’s cumulative PV installed capacity grew from 15.89 GW to 880 GW, representing an average annual growth rate of 44%. By July 2025, the cumulative installed capacity had exceeded 1,100 GW, maintaining the global lead. New grid connected projects directly expand the base for cleaning services, while older stations already in operation have entered a stable O&M phase. Both the frequency and the rigidity of cleaning demand have increased simultaneously, forming twin engines for market expansion.
Cleanliness Directly Affects Generation Efficiency, Highlighting the Value of Professional Cleaning
Contaminants on PV module surfaces significantly reduce light transmittance and heat dissipation performance. Field tests conducted by Duke University in arid regions showed that if panels are not cleaned monthly, generation efficiency can drop by 17%–25%; if left uncleaned for two months, the reduction reaches 25%–35%. Large scale ground mounted plants in western China and distributed arrays in the east also face challenges from dust, bird droppings, oil stains and other pollutants. Long term accumulation not only lowers power output but also accelerates module ageing. As the industry shifts from “pursuing incremental capacity” to “enhancing quality”, plant operators are placing higher demands on professional cleaning, making cleaning an essential requirement rather than an optional extra.
Diverse Technology and Product Paths, with Smart Robots Becoming Mainstream
Current cleaning technologies fall mainly into three categories: water based systems (high pressure spray, low pressure roller brushes), electrostatic systems (contactless cleaning) and robotic systems (automated operation). Among these, intelligent cleaning robots – offering high efficiency and low manual intervention – are gaining increasing adoption in large scale ground mounted stations, becoming a major trend. Automated and intelligent solutions are gradually replacing traditional manual methods, driving cost reduction and efficiency improvements in O&M.
Regional Pattern: “Concentrated in the West, Dispersed in the East” with Differentiated Demand
The cleaning service market closely mirrors the geographical distribution of PV installations, showing a “west concentrated, east dispersed” characteristic. Western regions, with abundant land and solar resources, have dense clusters of ground mounted plants, creating strong demand for automated cleaning equipment and integrated service solutions. Eastern coastal provinces (Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, etc.) are dominated by commercial and industrial distributed PV, where flexibility and convenience are prioritised. The central region features a mix of both ground mounted and distributed systems, resulting in more diversified demand. Pollution levels also affect cleaning frequency – areas with heavy dust, such as deserts and Gobi regions, show markedly higher service demand.
Industry Heading Toward a Standardised and Intelligent New Phase
Looking ahead, as total installed capacity continues to rise and O&M refinement improves, the PV cleaning service market will maintain steady growth. The industry landscape is becoming more concentrated, with companies that possess technological, financial and service advantages expanding their market shares, while small local teams gradually transition toward specialisation and standardisation. At the same time, continued advances in automation and intelligence will further popularise smart cleaning robots, enhance service efficiency and quality, and accelerate the industry’s move into a refined, standardised and intelligent development stage.
Corporate Practice: Multifit Electrical Empowers Green O&M with Robotics Technology
Against the backdrop of rapid industry development, Multifit Electrical has become an important driver in the green energy O&M sector, thanks to its mature photovoltaic cleaning robot technology. The company integrates R&D, manufacturing, sales and PV cleaning construction services, focusing on solar power generation and other green energy fields, and is recognised as a national high tech enterprise. Since its establishment in 2009, Zhongneng has leveraged its strategic headquarters in Beijing, the market oriented advantages of its Shenzhen branch, and its production base in the Shantou High tech Zone to continuously deepen its PV cleaning technology. It has developed a comprehensive product matrix of cleaning robots suitable for ground mounted plants, tracking system plants, commercial/industrial rooftops and complex scenarios. Its intelligent products and solutions not only effectively improve cleaning efficiency and power generation revenue, but also provide strong technical support for the industry’s transition from extensive to refined operations, contributing to the high quality development of China’s PV sector.
Post time: Jul-03-2026