From efficiency to eternity: A holistic review of photovoltaic panel degradation and End-of-Life management.

• Degradation is one of the primary causes of performance reduction in fielded solar panels. • Lifetime testing of PV panels needs improvement to investigate failure modes. • End-of-life management includes recovering silver and copper from old solar panels. The most dependable part of photovoltaic (PV) power systems are PV modules. Under normal operating conditions, the PV module will continue to function properly for 25 years. However, in this period, the output of the solar panel decreases significantly, which is termed "degradation," and sometimes the panel may fail. To reduce module failure and degradation, an understanding of degradation phenomena and failure modes is crucial. With the advent of new PV technologies and increased installation capacity, the reliability and life of the modules need to be studied. This paper provides a state-of-the-art review of the most recent research on the different degradation modes of PV modules. Globally, PV waste is projected to make up 4 %–14 % of total generation capacity by 2030 and more than 80 % by 2050 due to a 25-year average panel lifespan. Therefore, PV panel disposal will be a significant environmental concern. Therefore, this review contains information on the current state of recycling PV panel waste, the various technologies involved in recycling, and the financial implications of recycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]