This　paper　presented　the　whole　year　performance　of　a　novel　kind　of　microheat　pipe　array　(MHPA)　flat　plate　solar　water　heater.　The　structure　and　characters　of　the　novel　MHPA-FPC　were　presented.　To　quantify　the　performance　of　the　novel　MHPA-FPC　SWH,　a　whole　year　thermal　performance　experiment　was　conducted　in　Beijing,　China.　The　experimental　system　was　built　in　a　household　scale　with　a　165　1　water　tank　and　a　2　m(2)　MHPA-FPC.　The　effective　heat　gain　and　the　thermal　efficiency　were　used　to　evaluate　the　performance　of　the　MHPA-FPC　SWH.　The　test　data　were　analyzed　from　the　aspects　of　daily,　monthly　and　seasonal　performance.　The　test　results　present　an　excellent　characteristics　for　the　novel　MHPA-FPC　SWH　in　the　whole　year.　The　annual　average　daily　effective　heat　gain　was　found　to　be　9.5　MJ　m(-2),　and　the　annual　average　system　efficiency　was　58.29%.　(C)　2013　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.