A comprehensive review on reliability and degradation of PV modules based on failure modes and effect analysis

Abstract This review paper aims to evaluate the impact of defects on the reliability and degradation of photovoltaic (PV) modules during outdoor exposure. A comprehensive analysis of existing literature was conducted to identify the primary causes of degradation and failure modes in PV modules, with a particular focus on the effect of defects. Based on a risk priority number (RPN) analysis of previous studies, dust accumulation on the PV surface (severity = 9), module shading (severity = 8) and humidity (severity = 7) were found to be the most significant causes of degradation. Furthermore, the degree of performance and degradation of PV modules were analyzed based on the identified failure mechanisms and modes. The analysis revealed that the decrease in efficiency ranged from 0.2 to 3%. The dust accumulation reduced the module efficiency by 3%, while corrosion in the module decreased efficiency by 1.9%. These findings highlight the importance of addressing specific defects to maintain optimal PV module performance in outdoor conditions. This review paper provides valuable insights into the effect of defects on the performance of PV modules, and critical defects occur during outdoor exposure to PV modules which depend on the type of PV technology and outdoor environment conditions and are able to mitigate the further performance of PV modules. The present study will help manufacturers improve the design and maintenance strategies of PV systems.