This paper presents the application of a Nonlinear Model Predictive Controller (NMPC) extended with a dead-time compensator (DTC) to the control of a distributed solar collector field. This nonlinear controller uses the Nonlinear Extended Prediction Self-Adaptive Controller (NEPSAC) algorithm. A nonlinear grey-box model of the plant, based on first principles and tuned according to real measurements, is used in the simulation tests. The resulting controller is compared to other architectures based on DTC, showing very good performance for reference tracking and for disturbance rejection. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.