The problem of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is addressed for photovoltaic (PV) arrays considered in a given panel position. The PV system includes a PV panel, a PWM boost power converter and a storing battery. Although the maximum power point (MPP) of PV generators varies with solar radiation and temperature, the MPPT is presently sought without resorting to solar radiation and temperature sensors in order to reduce the PV system cost. The proposed sensorless control solution is an adaptive nonlinear controller involving online estimation of uncertain parameters, i.e. those depending on radiation and temperature. The adaptive control problem at hand is not a standard one because parameter uncertainty affects, in addition to system dynamics, the output-reference trajectory (expressing the MPPT purpose). Therefore, the convergence of parameter estimates to their true values is necessary for MPPT achievement. It is formally shown, under mild assumptions, that the developed adaptive controller actually meets the MPPT objective.