The work presented in this paper is focused on the single-tube configuration for linear Fresnel receiver. Specifically, this article analyses the feasibility of a new configuration: a hybrid loop in which the first modules, at lower working temperature, use non-evacuated receivers with medium thermal performance, and the remaining, at greater temperature, use evacuated receivers with high thermal performance. The non-evacuated receiver considered in this work consists of a pyromark tube inside a cavity provided with a secondary reflector opened to the ambient. The second one is based on an evacuated tube, similar to those of parabolic trough, and it is also inside an opened cavity with a secondary reflector. In the first place, this work performs a comparative analysis of the heat loss associated to the three single-tube receiver designs proposed: evacuated, non-evacuated and non-evacuated with a glass plate at the aperture. The heat loss is quantified in each case as a function of three parameters: the temperature difference between the tube wall and the environment, the incident concentrated flux on the tube and the wind velocity. Although the evacuated design has the lowest heat loss, the differences with the other two designs decrease as the working temperature is lower. Thus, a hybrid loop is proposed, which consists of non-evacuated modules at the beginning and evacuated modules at the end. The lower investment of the non-evacuated tubes, as well as their robustness and simplicity, can compensate for the lower energy absorbed by these type of receivers. Next, a study of the annual electricity cost produced by Fresnel plants with hybrid loop is performed. The work concludes that there are specific configurations of hybrid loops that minimize the electricity cost, when the different investment, operation and maintenance costs of the receivers are quantified. The maximum percentage of non-evacuated tubes in the loop will depend on the technology and the working temperature range. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.