February 2026 witnessed multiple shifts in the international photovoltaic cleaning sector. From the mandatory promotion of water-free cleaning in the Middle East to the initiation of investigations into Chinese cleaning robots by the US, and the technological breakthroughs by Chinese enterprises, PV cleaning is accelerating towards intelligence and standardization.
The Middle East took the lead in upgrading cleaning standards. In early February, the Saudi Power Procurement Company and the Oman Ministry of Energy and Minerals jointly issued new regulations requiring newly built large-scale PV power plants to be equipped with water-free cleaning robots, completely banning traditional high-pressure water gun cleaning. This move aims to address the severe water scarcity in desert areas while preventing secondary damage to modules caused by scale buildup. Following the policy, inquiries for PV cleaning robots in the Middle East surged dramatically.
Chinese enterprises quickly seized the opportunity. Relying on its independently developed dry-brush MULR-D and dry-type automatic cleaning robot MR-G3, Multifit Solar reached export agreements with multiple Middle Eastern companies in February. The first batch of 50 PV cleaning robots will be delivered in March for routine maintenance of local solar plants. These units require no water, can clean 1.2 megawatts of modules per day, achieve a cleaning efficiency of over 99%, and are fully adaptable to the high-temperature, arid conditions of the Middle East.
Technological innovations were prominently featured. On February 24, at the ”World Future Energy Summit” held in Dubai, a heavy-duty cleaning drone developed by Europe was showcased. Capable of precise, unmanned high-altitude cleaning, it signifies the industry’s expansion from ground-based robots to three-dimensional spatial cleaning.
Trade frictions and accidents are forcing standard upgrades. On February 18, the U.S. International Trade Commission initiated a ”Section 337 investigation” into Chinese PV cleaning robots. However, Multifit Solar remained unaffected as its core technologies are self-developed, and the company has completed overseas patent layouts in advance. Meanwhile, a fire accident in Brazil caused by dust accumulation on PV modules has prompted authorities to mandate cleaning frequency during the dry season, heating up market demand in Latin America.
Overall, Chinese enterprises like Multifit Solar are leveraging technological innovation to capture the Middle Eastern market, driving the global PV cleaning industry towards a new phase of mandatory regulations and intelligent development.
Post time: Feb-26-2026