Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating a liquid using solar energy. Through the use of an absorber plate made of a sheet of copper or any other similar conductive metal, the heat from the sun is captured. The front surface of the plate is covered with a dark absorbent coating. The heat absorbed by the copper sheet is conducted to a thin film of liquid such as water which is fed by gravity down the backside of the plate from a supply line disposed adjacent to the top of the backside of the plate. The liquid absorbs the heat from the plate as it flows downward covering the backside of the plate and is discharged at the bottom of the plate into a drain line. The drain line removes the heated liquid from the apparatus.