A power generation system includes: a heat source having a temperature being changed over time; a flow passage through which a heat medium heated by the heat source passes; a power generation device including a power generation element and a first electrode, the power generation element being electrically polarized by temperature change thereof depending on temperature change of the heat medium, the first electrode extracting electric power from the power generation element; a temperature detection device being disposed on an upstream side relative to the power generation device in the flow passage and detecting the temperature of the heat medium; a voltage application device that applies voltage to the power generation element; and a control device that activates the voltage application device when the temperature increase of the heat medium has been detected and deactivates the voltage application unit when the temperature decrease of the heat medium has been detected.