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Concentrating solar power (CSP) is considered as one of the promising ways for future sustainable electricity generation, especially in the Sahel region, which is characterized by high direct solar irradiation, but also severe and acute energy poverty. In this paper, we focus on the linear Fresnel system, which it is probably the simplest CSP technology and presents the lowest investment costs. However, it is the less investigated CSP technology and several authors expect significant cost reduction of this technology. Therefore, deeper knowledge on the technology is required. We aim at investigating the coupling of a linear Fresnel system with various energy processes in order to bring out its interests for the Sahel region and, hence, provide sustainable energy services such as electricity generation for rural areas, cooling and refrigeration via sorption cold production, hot water or steam supply for semi-industrial or industrial processes. We have built a linear Fresnel collector of 7.5 m2. The receiver has been designed as a trapezoidal receiver with multi-tubular absorber; it has been experimentally investigated in order to determine its thermal performance, especially the heat loss coefficients. Jatropha curcas oil, a locally produced non-edible vegetable oil is used as heat transfer fluid. The concentrator has been characterised in order to find its optical, thermal and global efficiencies. Paths for the prototype performance improvement have been identified and examined.