While I understand the desire to just hook a fan to a solar panel, I think the fan is better off wired to the battery and the solar panel to the battery as well.
I know my muffin fans have handled 16 volts no problem, I don't know how they would like the ~22 volt open circuit voltage of the 12v solar panel.
I use a voltage controller on my fans as a speed control:
http://www.amazon.com/12V-2A-DC-To-Converter/dp/B000KGIDOY/ref=pd_sxp_grid_i_1_2Or just use a fan that comes with its own speed controller:
http://www.amazon.com/SilverStone-FM121-Control-Designs-120X120X25mm/dp/B000BWEIFU/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1359491708&sr=1-1&keywords=silverstone+fm121