A hybrid solar energy converter comprising: a solar energy collector assembly housed within a sealed transparent tube and connected at the open end of the sealed transparent tube to a heat exchanger assembly, the solar energy collector assembly comprising a heat transport element and an array of photovoltaic elements mounted on an upper surface of the heat transport element, whereby the heat transport element is arranged to transfer heat energy away from the photovoltaic element to cool the photovoltaic element; whereby the heat transport element is inclined to the horizontal; characterized in that: the heat transfer element has an upper surface formed by an upper sheet and a lower surface formed by a lower sheet, the upper sheet and the lower sheet being sealed together around their respective edges so as to form at least one fluid flow passage between them; each fluid passage is divided into an upper portion and a lower portion by a partition sheet so that the upper portion and the lower portion 16b) are not sealed from one another; the at least one fluid passage is filled with a working liquid; the interior of the he transport element including the at least one fluid passage is at least partially evacuated; upon exposure to a certain level of incident solar radiative energy the working liquid partially vaporizes and produces bubbles of vapor, the bubbles together with relatively hot working liquid flow upwards along the upper portion of the fluid passage into the heat exchange assembly and relatively cool working liquid flows downwards along the lower portion of the fluid flow passage. a solar energy collector assembly housed within a sealed transparent tube and connected at the open end of the sealed transparent tube to a heat exchanger assembly, the solar energy collector assembly comprising a heat transport element and an array of photovoltaic elements mounted on an upper surface of the heat transport element, whereby the heat transport element is arranged to transfer heat energy away from the photovoltaic element to cool the photovoltaic element; whereby the heat transport element is inclined to the horizontal; characterized in that: the heat transfer element has an upper surface formed by an upper sheet and a lower surface formed by a lower sheet, the upper sheet and the lower sheet being sealed together around their respective edges so as to form at least one fluid flow passage between them; each fluid passage is divided into an upper portion and a lower portion by a partition sheet so that the upper portion and the lower portion 16b) are not sealed from one another; the at least one fluid passage is filled with a working liquid; the interior of the he transport element including the at least one fluid passage is at least partially evacuated; upon exposure to a certain level of incident solar radiative energy the working liquid partially vaporizes and produces bubbles of vapor, the bubbles together with relatively hot working liquid flow upwards along the upper portion of the fluid passage into the heat exchange assembly and relatively cool working liquid flows downwards along the lower portion of the fluid flow passage. the heat transfer element has an upper surface formed by an upper sheet and a lower surface formed by a lower sheet, the upper sheet and the lower sheet being sealed together around their respective edges so as to form at least one fluid flow passage between them; each fluid passage is divided into an upper portion and a lower portion by a partition sheet so that the upper portion and the lower portion 16b) are not sealed from one another; the at least one fluid passage is filled with a working liquid; the interior of the he transport element including the at least one fluid passage is at least partially evacuated; upon exposure to a certain level of incident solar radiative energy the working liquid partially vaporizes and produces bubbles of vapor, the bubbles together with relatively hot working liquid flow upwards along the upper portion of the fluid passage into the heat exchange assembly and relatively cool working liquid flows downwards along the lower portion of the fluid flow passage. upon exposure to a certain level of incident solar radiative energy the working liquid partially vaporizes and produces bubbles of vapor, the bubbles together with relatively hot working liquid flow upwards along the upper portion of the fluid passage into the heat exchange assembly and relatively cool working liquid flows downwards along the lower portion of the fluid flow passage.