This work investigates the Fresnel-lens-based solar concentrator-receiver system in a multi-perspective manner to design, test and fabricate this concentrator with high-efficiency photon and heat outputs and a minimized effect of chromatic aberrations. First, a MATLAB®-incorporated algorithm optimizes both the flat-spot and the curved lens designs via a statistical ray-tracing methodology of the incident light, considering all of its incidence parameters. The target is to maximize the solar ray intensity on the receiver's aperture, and therefore, achieve the highest possible focal flux. The algorithm outputs prismatic and dimensional geometries of the Fresnel-lens concentrator, which are simulated by COMSOL® Multiphysics to validate the design. For the second part, a novel genetically-themed hierarchical algorithm (GTHA) has been investigated to design Fresnel-lens solar concentrators that match with the distinct energy input and spatial geometry of various thermal applications. Basic heat transfer analysis of each application decides its solar energy requirement. The GTHA incorporated in MATLAB® optimizes the concentrator characteristics to secure this energy demand, balancing a minimized geometry and a maximized efficiency. Two experimental applications were selected from literature to validate the optimization process, a solar welding system for H13 steel plates and a solar Stirling engine with an aluminum-cavity receiver attached to the …