A new dual receiver concept improves the adaptation of the central receiver to the steam cycle in a solar thermal power plant. By combination of an open volumetric air heater with a tubular evaporator section the dual receiver concept profits from the advantages of these two basic concepts while their characteristic problems are avoided. This paper presents a concept study based on the configuration that was originally planned for the PS10 project in Spain, using the open volumetric receiver technology. The results show several benefits of the new concept, especially higher thermal efficiency of the receiver, lower receiver temperature and lower parasitic losses. Due to these improvements the annual output could be increased by 27%, compared to the solar air heating system. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.