The German R + D program "Solares Testzentrum Almeria" (SOTA) provides the scientific basis for the realization of advanced solar technologies including facility modifica-tions, component tests and new lines of development. One of the working packages, WP 300, addresses the "Scientific Support" by the performance of pre-paratory studies, exploratory laboratory activities and quali­ fied expertise. Universities, Research Institutes and Company R + D Entities in Germany are enabled to treat the following aspects: * Meteorological, system and cost investigations, * Development of important components as concentrator, receiver, storage, * Utilization of solar energy for process heat and chemical reactions. In 1990 the studies covered the developments of terminal concentrators, receivers, integrated receiver/reactors, and solar chemistry processes. The reports of the activities were finalized recently and collected in the present volume. The final reports were printed as received. The achieved results and the views ex-pressed within the reports were under the responsibility of the authors. As organizers of these solar thermal activities and as editors of the corresponding final reports, we would like to thank BMFT and KFA-BEO for the farsighted funding (grant no. 0328823A) and the research groups for their engagement and consultations. We would also like to thanl< Ms S. Preusser and Ms U. Rachow, who among many others contributed to the realization of this volume.