A task force of Sandia National Laboratories Livermore personnel has reviewed and evaluated the status of solar central receiver technology as of early 1980. The methodology and results of the evaluation are described. The evaluation concentrated on the detailed component and system designs developed by industrial firms; the conclusions are based on these designs. The task force makes recommendations for the allocation of DOE R and D resources within the solar central receiver program. Results of the evaluation are also intended to point out to developers of central receiver technology where improvements are necessary. The recommendations emphasize the need for a continuing effort on the nitrate salt technology for large scale electricity generation. This technology appears to be capable of producing energy over a wide range of capacity factors at lower cost than with other heat transport fluids. A brief discussion of central receiver technology applied to industrial process heat is presented.