The use of small refractory pebbles or sand as the working media in a high temperature solar central receiver system has been examined. Such a receiver appears to have significant advantages over current designs for high temperature receivers which use air or gas as the working fluid. A conceptual design is proposed and analyzed, candidate materials are examined, system components are explored, and the cost of a central receiver system employing a solid particle receiver is estimated. The areas of principal technical uncertainties are identified and a plan for further work is proposed.