Energy-generating plant, particularly propeller-type ship's propulsion plant, including a solar generator

In an energy-generating plant having solar cell means for converting solar energy to electrical energy, electrical storage means for storing the electrical energy generated by the solar cell, and energy conversion means having an input operatively connected to the solar cell means and an output operatively connected to the electrical storage means for storing the electrical energy generated by the solar cell means in the storage means, the improvement which comprises,

• control means operatively connected to the energy conversion means for varying a characteristic of the energy conversion means to optimize its power output;
• sensor means for measuring the magnitude of at least one environmental characteristic to which the solar cell means is exposed;
• and
• data storage means having first input means operatively connected to the output of the energy conversion means, and second input means operatively connected to the sensor means, for storing in one to one correspondence, environmental characteristic magnitudes measured by the sensor means with respective settings of the control means at which the power output is optimized, and
• matching means for comparing the current magnitude of the environmental characteristic measured by the sensor means to the magnitudes of the environmental characteristic stored in the data storage means, the control means being connected to the matching means for being adjusted to the respective setting stored in the data storage means corresponding to a matched stored magnitude of the environmental characteristic.