Parabolic　trough　receivers　are　a　kind　of　key　components　of　a　solar　trough　power　plant,　which　absorb　and　transfer　the　high　flux　solar　energy　to　the　heat　transfer　fluid　flowing　in　it.　A　Receiver　Impedance　Heating　(RIH)　method　is　put　forward　by　analyzing　the　inadequacies　of　traditional　methods.　Voltage　is　imposed　on　both　ends　of　the　receiver　and　then　the　receiver　is　self-heated　via　a　large　electrical　current　flowing　through　it　based　on　the　Joule　Effect.　Once　the　receiver　reaches　a　thermal　equilibrium　the　product　of　voltage　imposed　on　the　receiver　and　electrical　current　flowing　through　the　receiver　is　equal　to　the　heat　loss　of　the　receiver　to　ambient　environment　at　corresponding　temperature　difference　of　receiver　temperature　above　ambient.　The　experiment　system　is　simple,　low-cost,　and　easy　to　operate.　Experiment　results　show　that　curve　of　heat　loss　is　smooth　and　measurement　uncertainty　is　low,　which　means　accuracy　of　the　experiment　results　is　high,　while　time　period　to　reach　a　thermal　equilibrium　at　every　absorber　temperature　reduces　to　2-3hours　which　is　one　fifth　of　that　needed　in　traditional　methods.　©　(2014)　Trans　Tech　Publications,　Switzerland.