Abstract: A system and method for cooling a solar panel to increase its efficiency is provided. The solar panel cooling system includes a plurality of heat transfer plates having central channels. Heat transfer pipes are disposed in the central channels and thermally bonded to the heat transfer plates. The heat transfer plates and heat transfer pipes are in turn thermally bonded to the back side of a solar panel. Water is then pumped through the heat transfer pipes and acts to cool the solar panel. The cool water is preferably pumped from a swimming pool and then returned to a swimming pool once heated by the solar panel in order to simultaneously cool the solar panel and heat the swimming pool.