Alternatives to lithium-ion using materials such as zinc, vanadium, or sodium are well-suited for stationary storage used by utilities to capture renewable energy and deliver electricity to consumers hours later. The sector is poised for surging growth, with annual installations projected to rise from 6 GWh last year to about 155 GWh in 2030.

With stocks and government bonds at historically high valuations, savers are being forced to seek out alternatives. Investment strategists have suggested private equity, real estate, infrastructure, inflation-linked bonds and dividend-paying equities. Others have suggested that investors switch their exposure from sovereign debt to high-quality corporate bonds.