Making use of MPPT is pretty much essential for loading an solar panel. The output power fluctuates over light intensity and temperature. If you look at the output power curves you will understand that not regulated on the maximum power will make your design far less effective. I have seen an application note on the Microchip website suggesting a microcontroller (PICmicro) to have a boost (DC/DC-converter) with MPPT on the solar panel. It is hard to circumvent microcontrollers in this kind of complex applications.
LT3652 is good IC it can not only support Peak Power Tracking(MPPT) in Solar Applications, can also charge multi-chemistry batteries like Li-Ion/Polymer, LiFePO4, SLA, NiMH/NiCd chemistries.
I checked the datasheet of the Linear LT3652 controller. It looks very promising. It has the major benifit of being a hardware controller, so you don't have to be involved with software programming. You have to consider availibility and price of the LT3652 also.
Lot's of succes!
Best regards,
Enrico Migchels Power conversion design engineer Heliox B.V. Best - The Netherlands www.heliox.nl
