Magnetic heat pumps, refrigerators and energy conversion prototypes, with an operation based on the magnetocaloric effect, usually show a restriction in their frequency of operation to a few Hertz. In 2010 it was proposed to apply thermal switches to overcome this barrier. In this article thermal switches built with Ni-nanowire Peltier elements are presented and the performance of such elements is discussed on a theoretical and experimental basis. Finally an approximate estimate of the performance of a magnetic refrigerator of the types built up to present is compared to that of a magnetic refrigerator applying nanowire thermal switches. •A new alternative method for magnetic refrigeration.•High-frequency device is more efficient and economical.•Applicable to magnetic heating, refrigeration and energy conversion.