Abstract: A solar collector comprised of a frame and a plurality of tubular collector elements. Each collector element is comprised of an outer transparent tube, a metallic absorber tube, and an intermediate transparent tube which encloses the absorber tube. The absorber tube is coated with an absorptive coating and the outer tube is coated over a significant portion of its circumference with a reflective coating to reflect solar radiation onto the absorber tube. The intermediate tube serves to reduce convective and conductive heat losses, provides a structural support for the absorber tube, and chemically isolates the coated absorber tube from the reflective coating on the outer tube.