Abstract.This paper discusses the characterisation of micro-channel absorber plates for Compact Flat Plate solar thermal collectors. Experimental and computational studies were carried out at typical operating conditions for flat plate solar collectors; overall heat loss coefficient in the range 2 -8 W/m 2 .°C, flow rate in the range 0.01 -0.1 kg/s/m 2 and heat transfer coefficients in the range 100 -1000 W/m 2 .°C. Three Dimensional numerical analysis using commercial CFD package, Ansys CFX, showed that heat transfer occurred on only three surfaces of the channel and there was a peripheral variation of the heat flux density. It was also observed that axial thermal conduction could modify the surface boundary at the inlet and outlet, however, the middle section of the channel could be approximated as a rectangular channel with three walls transferring heat under a H1 boundary condition. Experimental studies were used to estimate the standard parameters (channel efficiency, F, collector efficiency factor, F', heat removal factor, FR, and flow factor F") for predicting performance of the flat plate collectors. An alternate parameter, channel efficiency, F, was proposed to replace Fin efficiency, F, used in standard collector analysis. The results showed that values of F and F', very close to unity could be achieved with this design when the overall heat loss coefficient is below 2 W/m 2 .°C. The analysis further revealed that increasing the fluid-plate heat transfer coefficient beyond 300 W/m 2 .°C has marginal effect on the collector efficiency factor at a given UL value. The collector flow factor F" and the heat removal factor could be improved by increasing the collector capacitance rate; this can be achieved by increasing the mass flow rate per collector area ̇/ , as well as reducing the overall heat loss, UL . This analysis is important for optimizing design and operating parameters, especially to minimize temperature gradient in the transverse and longitudinal directions.