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A Transformative Storage Boom? Part 2
Alternative Energy: A Transformative Storage Boom? Part 2 Written by Veronica Zhang, this is part two of a two-part series that explores the growing opportunities in alternative energy and battery storage. Read Part 1.
California: A Model Fit for Storage
The challenge to meet two-way grid functionality is most pressing in California, which is on track to meet its goal of generating 33% of electricity from renewables in 2020. The oft-cited ”Duck Curve” forecasts the topology of electricity demand that conventional power utilities must meet in California as the state becomes more renewable-dependent. This illustrates the magnitude of the inflection in expected conventional electric demand when solar contributes the majority of its supply during daylight hours and, conversely, when solar ”shuts off” when the sun sets. This phenomenon is magnified in the winter months (the sun sets before the evening peak load), as well as during outages and natural disasters, all factors that would likely increase the state’s vulnerability to price spikes and power disruptions. The seasonal volatility and potential for over/undergeneration as we approach the 2020 scenario calls for a solution to normalize demand, as the current state of the grid is not equipped to fluctuate so dramatically to meet demand. The answer from a cost and reliability perspective: battery storage.
Indicative Hourly Conventional Electric Utility Demand
Source: CAISO. California’s Duck Curve: Illustrative trajectory of grid electricity demand as more homeowners switch to solar, thus not needing to tap the grid at hours at which the sun is strongest. As California achieves higher penetration each year, grid demand continues to fall, exacerbating the slope of demand ramp-up when the sun ”shuts off” and grid turns on. This phenomenon is named after the resemblance to the profile of said water fowl.
The Need for Bigger, Better, Cheaper Batteries
The technology behind battery storage for the grid initially emerged from batteries used in laptops, consumer electronics, and electric vehicles (EV), with declining input prices and improving technology driving the adaption into larger-scale formats. There is currently extensive debate on the particular chemistry of the ”optimal” grid battery (it differs from that of EV batteries, which must be light, dense and compact as they are installed in vehicles, versus the storage battery, which can be larger and remains stationary). While absolute capital costs are important, the crucial element here is the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), which measures the all-in cost of electricity produced by a given source, and is a metric that regulators use to compare different methods of electricity generation.
Quick Math: Traditional lithium ion batteries have at max 1,000 cycles (full charge to full discharge), with a degrading tail end after a few hundred cycles. Assuming 90% efficiency over its lifetime, a $100/kWh battery would equate to $0.11/kWh electricity storage ($100 divided by 1,000 cycles @ 90% efficiency). For scope, retail electricity in the U.S. averages ~$0.12/kWh.
Tesla: Pioneering the Cost Curve
Tesla’s 10kWh PowerWall battery retails for $3,500, or $350/kWh. This looks expensive and uneconomical relative to the LCOE math, but it is worth noting that the product is testing a niche market and the manufacturing itself has significant room for cost reduction when production becomes mainstream. Tesla projects battery costs to drop to $100/kWh by 2020, a target seconded by General Motors (GM), which predicts hitting the $100/kWh mark by 2021.
Similar to the decline in the cost of solar photovoltaic/PV (which includes price of polysilicon, installation costs, and sales/customer acquisition costs) of 50% in just five years, the same is expected of battery storage system price declines (lithium metal, increasing density per gram, and manufacturing in scale). The LCOE of combined solar and storage, while not a means to go fully ”off-grid” permanently, is headed in a direction competitive with traditional power generation.
Source: RMI. Long-term outlook: Illustrative graph charting the difference between grid-only electricity at 3% annual escalator (top line), combination of grid +solar (middle line), and grid +solar + battery (bottom line). The first scenario is self-explanatory. The second reflects savings from solar, which has lower LCOE than traditional power generation, but still relies on the grid during evening hours and, thus, pays grid pricing when utilized. The third scenario, where electricity is predominantly supplied by solar and battery with grid access during outages and unforeseen events, reflects how customer insulation from utility price increases could be achieved. The cluster of states and their estimated electricity prices in 2050 are scattered around the bottom line, with state-by-state variance driven by the number of sunshine hours per day.
This is Only the Beginning for Storage
The debate on how to change the way we power our lives is a continuing one, although the conclusions are far more in favor of alternative energy and battery storage than ever before. Not limited only to an economic rationale, the unmeasured benefits on the environmental impact of replacing coal with the sun is another incentive spurring the change. The storage industry, while still nascent in implementation and from an investment perspective, is developing rapidly due to a need to complete the formula for the argument for solar, and why it should be here to stay.
by Veronica Zhang, Analyst
Analyst Veronica Zhang is a member of the Hard Assets Team that manages our Natural Resources Equity strategy. Zhang focuses on the industrials and alternative energy sectors, and holds a BA in Economics and Statistics from Columbia University.
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The investment environment in 2025 has been marked by increased uncertainty, including evolving trade dynamics involving the U.S. and rising geopolitical risks, which have weighed on overall market sentiment. Notably, though, gold has shone, surging past the symbolic $3,100 per ounce mark for the first time in history.
Gold has recently gained attention as investors seek potential hedges against rising inflation, currency fluctuations, and broader market volatility. Historical data suggests that both gold and gold mining equities have sometimes outperformed during periods of market stress, though such outcomes are not guaranteed and may vary depending on broader macroeconomic dynamics. The chart below displays historical episodes where gold and gold mining equities experienced relative strength during market corrections. However, such past performance should not be interpreted as a reliable indicator of future results.
Source: VanEck, World Gold Council.
The early months of 2025 have seen a resurgence in gold mining stock interest, with the VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) receiving significant capital inflows. These flows reflect changing investor sentiment but should not be viewed as a guarantee of future returns.
Improved management
While gold mining stocks are a play on the gold price, they are much more than that. In the past, gold mining companies indulged in wanton value destruction. During gold’s last bull market that ended in 2011, mining companies borrowed heavily to fund new developments and extract gold from low quality mines. After the gold price dropped, they were forced to announce write-downs.
But since then, they have learned to keep costs under control. Indeed, for more than 10 years gold mining companies’ costs have grown by far less than a gold price that’s at least doubled. Despite the sharp rise in gold prices, especially in post 2020, miners have lagged significantly, likely reflecting ongoing capital and operating challenges noted between 2011 and 2015. This divergence may suggest a potential value opportunity if mining equities eventually re-rate closer to gold’s performance. Nevertheless, this is an assumption and may not turn out to be true, as structural issues or market dynamics could continue to weigh on miners’ valuations.
Gold Miner Premium/Discount to Gold
Source: Scotiabank. Data as February 2025.
Gold miners are expanding their profit margins, generating cash and embarking on share buy backs. What’s more, many have strong balance sheets. Yet still they trade at valuations below historical averages. Valuation metrics such as price-to-free cash flow (P/FCF) and price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios remain below the 12-month moving average.
Valuations are Still Below Long-Term Averages
Source: Morningstar data.
Gold miners differentiate from gold because they are operating businesses influenced by company-specific factors such as management decisions, production efficiency, regulatory environments, and geopolitical risks. While gold is a passive asset driven by macroeconomic trends, miners add an additional layer of exposure to operational performance and cost structures.
A supportive macro backdrop
The performance of gold mining stocks is naturally influenced by the trajectory of gold prices. From a macroeconomic standpoint, factors such as inflation concerns and central bank policies continue to shape a cautiously optimistic outlook for gold, although the asset remains subject to volatility. Central banks continue to be net buyers, with 2023 marking a record year in terms of official sector demand. This trend has extended into 2024 and early 2025, underscoring institutional confidence in gold as a long-term store of value.
At the same time, the unfolding trade war is contributing to a more volatile global environment. These developments could support the case for gold and, by extension, gold mining equities. Moreover, recent efforts to improve transparency around global gold reserves, including audits of holdings in Fort Knox and London, have added credibility to the market, potentially reducing the perceived risk premium for miners.
Valuable portfolio diversification
From an investor’s perspective, gold mining stocks can be a useful diversifier in a broader equity portfolio, especially at a time of uncertainty for equity markets. Historically, gold mining stocks have exhibited a high sensitivity to changes in the price of gold, sometimes outperforming the metal itself during prolonged bull markets. However, they also tend to underperform during downturns, reflecting their leveraged exposure to gold price movements. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The table below shows the low correlation of the two VanEck gold miners UCITS ETFs with the MSCI World Index of global stock prices. This low correlation suggests that gold mining ETFs may perform differently than global equities, potentially helping to reduce overall portfolio volatility during periods of market stress. That said, they also carry equity-like risks, and investors should assess their portfolio objectives and risk tolerance accordingly.
Low Price Correlations with Stocks
| Investment | MSCI World | Gold Price | VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF | VanEck Gold Miners ETF |
| MSCI World | 1.00 | |||
| Gold Price | 0.10 | 1.00 | ||
| VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF | 0.38 | 0.76 | 1.00 | |
| VanEck Gold Miners ETF | 0.31 | 0.81 | 0.96 | 1.00 |
Source: Morningstar data.
A better way to play the rally?
When the VanEck Gold Miners UCITS ETF was introduced in 2015, it aimed to provide investors with a way to gain diversified exposure to gold mining equities. Early performance was tempered by concerns related to past capital discipline within the sector. Recent inflows into ETF may reflect renewed investor interest, although sentiment toward mining equities can remain sensitive to market and operational developments.
As gold glitters at a time of market volatility, there are good reasons to think gold miners may be a better way to play the rally. It should however be noted that while gold prices and mining companies are closely linked, investing in miners introduces additional layers of risk and complexity and investors should consider all the risk factors before investing.
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This is marketing communication. Please refer to the prospectus of the UCITS and to the KID/KIID before making any final investment decisions. These documents are available in English and the KIDs/KIIDs in local languages and can be obtained free of charge at www.vaneck.com, from VanEck Asset Management B.V. (the “Management Company”) or, where applicable, from the relevant appointed facility agent for your country.
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VanEck Gold Miners UCITS ETF (the ”ETF”) is a sub-fund of VanEck UCITS ETFs plc, an open-ended variable capital umbrella investment company with limited liability between sub-funds. The ETF is registered with the Central Bank of Ireland, passively managed and tracks an equity index. Investing in the ETF should be interpreted as acquiring shares of the ETF and not the underlying assets.
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