Economic and technical analysis of wind thermal energy systems: Comprehensive comparison with battery storage and thermal backup solutions for long-duration renewable energy integration

The current landscape of wind-generated electricity exhibits significant variability, rendering it inadequate for reliable baseload power generation. This study presents a comprehensive technical and economic analysis of Wind Thermal Energy Systems (WTES). This innovative approach employs electromagnetic induction heating for direct thermal conversion, molten salt storage, and steam turbine electricity generation. The WTES system operates through electromagnetic heat generation, achieving 94-97% conversion efficiency, molten salt circulation at 290-565°C, and dual-tank thermal storage, providing a 6-72 hour duration capability. Economic analysis using the standardized Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) methodology demonstrates significant WTES advantages: $0.071/kWh compared to $0.095/kWh for wind-battery systems and $0.083/kWh for wind-thermal backup under base-case conditions. Economic advantages increase with storage duration: 25% at 12 hours, 38% at 24 hours, and 45% at 48 hours, due to the linear scaling of thermal storage costs versus the exponential scaling of battery costs. Life cycle assessment reveals superior environmental performance, with greenhouse gas emissions of 15-22 g CO 2 -eq/kWh for WTES, compared to 45-65 g CO 2 -eq/kWh for battery systems. This is achieved through the use of 99% recyclable molten salt media and the elimination of critical materials. Grid integration analysis demonstrates energy arbitrage capabilities over 6-72 hours, with a 95% capacity credit and a 25-30% reduction in wind curtailment, while acknowledging limitations of 15-30 seconds in response time. WTES represents a paradigm shift toward integrated renewable energy solutions, offering superior long-duration storage economics, enhanced environmental sustainability, and significant opportunities for industrial process heat integration, thereby accelerating renewable energy adoption.