A solar-thermal powered generator has an absorber assembly which includes a gas permeable body of light absorbing material operative to absorb incident light and convert the absorbed light into heat. The gas permeable body of light absorbing material is supported in a spaced-apart relationship with a subjacent surface to define a volume which is bounded by the body of light absorbing material and the subjacent surface. A gas flow channel establishes fluid communication between the volume and the ambient atmosphere, and a turbine is disposed so as to intercept the gas flowing between the ambient atmosphere and the interior volume and extract kinetic energy therefrom. Also disclosed is a method for power generation using the disclosed generators.