Impact of dust, humidity, and design flaws on PV performance: A review

Photovoltaic (PV) systems are pivotal for achieving global decarbonization targets, yet their real-world performance often falls short due to environmental stressors and design limitations. This review critically evaluates the influence of dust accumulation, humidity, tilt angle misalignment, shading, and climatic factors on PV efficiency, with a particular focus on tropical and humid regions such as Bangladesh. Reported performance losses are highly variable: dust alone can reduce yield by 5–60 %, with soiling rates up to 1.3 % per day on flat modules; combined dust–humidity interactions can cause efficiency drops exceeding 17 % within a month; temperature rise beyond standard test conditions results in ∼0.4–0.5 % loss per °C; and improper tilt angles can lower output by 20–50 %. Unlike prior studies that often examine these factors in isolation, this review’s primary novelty lies in synthesizing them into an integrated framework. It specifically addresses the research gap concerning the combined and interactive effects of these stressors, a context which is critical but often overlooked in hot and humid tropical regions. By bridging global evidence with localized insights from Bangladesh, this work advances a holistic understanding of PV performance limitations and provides a practical framework for sustainable deployment in the built environment. • Dust accumulation limits photovoltaic performance in humid, tropical environments. • High humidity accelerates PV module degradation and reduces system efficiency. • Improper PV panel orientation and tilt lower solar energy harvesting. • Regular cleaning and optimal tilt adjustment improve PV system output.