Evaluation of the economic efficiency of a wind turbine considring wind shear in the blade design

The economic efficiency of wind turbines is a key driver of the energy transition, particularly as global demand for electricity continues to rise. Small-scale wind systems, especially in distributed energy models, require both technical and financial optimization to ensure feasibility. This study proposes a novel approach by integrating vertical wind shear and terrain conditions into both aerodynamic rotor blade design and economic evaluation. The research demonstrates that accounting for vertical wind speed profiles and terrain conditions significantly enhance turbine efficiency and improve economic outcomes. By optimizing blade geometry based on local wind characteristics, this study shows how these adjustments can positively influence key economic indicators like Net Present Value, Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and Levelized Cost of Electricity, making investments more profitable. Applied to a 10-kW turbine under Polish inland conditions, the shear-aware design reduces LCOE from 0.35 to 0.26 €/kWh and raises IRR from −6% to +7%, with a payback of about six years for the optimized case. A 1000-run Monte Carlo analysis confirms that wind speed and electricity price are the most influential drivers, and that profitability remains sensitive to their joint variability. After a 13-year project horizon, the shear-optimized turbine achieves a positive NPV of ∼105 k€, compared with ∼97 k€ under the uniform-flow assumption. This confirms that accounting for vertical wind speed gradients significantly accelerates investment recovery and enhances long-term profitability