Abstract: Various embodiments for an improved solar collector are disclosed. For example, a heat absorber can be positioned inside an evacuated chamber formed by a frame and a transparent cover. Heat absorbed by the heat absorber within the evacuated chamber can be delivered to a heat transfer fluid inside a chamber of a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger chamber can also reside in the evacuated chamber. In a preferred embodiment, the heat absorber comprises a planar heat pipe. Also in a preferred embodiment, a reflector can be positioned to reflect energy radiated by the heat absorber back to the heat absorber.