Abstract

Day by day solar energy is supporting us in various aspects of our lives mainly in power generation. Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems produce electricity directly through solar energy and majorly contribute to fulfilling the world's electricity demand. They are also used in telecommunications, public lighting, agriculture, water heating and pumping, water desalination, satellites, space vehicles, etc. The performance of a PV system varies with the transformation in its major parameters such as shunt and series resistance and ideality factor. A variation is possible due to the manufacturing process and material consideration for fabricating the PV systems including the operative environment. This review article focuses on various factors such as materials for fabrication of solar cells, tracking and orientation of solar panels, clean surfaces of PV modules, thermal management of PV, efficiency enhancement techniques, etc., to examine the significance of all major performance parameters of PV systems. Finally, three issues have been identified for the lower performance of PV systems. First and main is the role of a manufacturer for the optimum design by using materials with excellent characteristics, second is the user's role for their proper installation, handling, and maintenance and the last is an operative environment that significantly affects the PV systems performance. One can easily get the maximum electrical yield if the PV is designed well with suitable materials and installed at a proper tilt angle at a clean geographical location with the flexibility of external cooling (if needed). All other performance enhancement techniques have been found effective compared with conventional PV panels, but not as effective as front surface water cooling. In previous research, only some specific factors and parameters that are good for professionals have been studied individually. This work provides all about PV systems on a single platform and thus, it is very useful for new students, research scholars, PV industry freshers, and those who have a great concern with PV technology.