Due to their rapid commercialisation, Photovoltaic (PV) systems are considered the foundation of present and future renewable energy. Nonetheless, the full potential of this technology has yet to be realised because of several challenges. Consequently, effective solutions are critical for achieving high solar PV performance. This work aims to consolidate and provide a unique global review of pioneering recent studies on the most influential factors affecting solar PV performance. Four driven parameters are emphasised: dust/soil, tilt angle, temperature, and humidity. Regional, national and international experiments performed indoor, outdoor and at the labora- tory, real-scale studies and numerical simulation dealing with PV performance challenges and potential routes for improvement and optimisation are reported. The review included studies from across the world, including the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, America and Europe. The figures and detailed tables with pertinent in- formation on the key subject are provided. The studies suggest that the dust can reduce PV efficiency by up to 24 %. Adjusting PV module alignment up to five times a year can enhance energy yield by 3.63 %. The efficiency drops by 0.05 %/◦C, with the temperature increase from 25 ◦C to 45 ◦C causing an efficiency drop of up to 20.22 %. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the thermal management, economic implications, environmental impact, and disposal concerns associated with end-of-life PV modules, highlighting the need for effective regulations to address emerging challenges. Finally, this work can be used as a pertinent guide for communities working in the field of solar PV involving researchers, industrialists and policymakers in the design, sizing, application and commercialisation of high-performance PV technologies and systems.
