Inside the "disappearing battery" revolution how forest-powered supercapacitors could keep wireless sensors running for years

Date:
Fri, 05 Jun 2026 21:40:00 +0000

Description:
Swedish startup Ligna Energy S-Power supercapacitors use forest-derived materials to replace unsustainable batteries in IoT sensors.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Forest-powered supercapacitors could replace batteries in IoT devices and sensors Swedish startup uses forest-derived lignin polymer to replace toxic metals S-Power offers quick charging, a long 8-10 year lifespan, and other savings Swedish startup Ligna Energy hopes its new S-Power technology could solve the unsustainable demand for batteries as demand for indoor environmental sensors, wearables and other IoT endpoints surges.

The company argues that a growing number of these devices dont actually require built-in energy storage due to the fact that they consume minimal energy and can operate intermittently. Those that can harvest environmental energy, like light, RF signals, vibration and temperature differences, could be among the most suited to this futuristic tech. Lignas flagship S-Power 2S offers 1.2F capacitance, a 2.7V operating voltage, 0.5 Equivalent Series Resistance and more than 250,000 charge cycles, but more importantly, this ultra-thin pouch-format cell is designed to be suitable for even the smallest cards and sensors. Latest Videos From Watch full video here: IoT devices,
like environmental sensors, have spiked demand for batteries According to the company, its latest S-Power technology is not just small enough to fit into places that conventional batteries would be too large, but it can also charge much more quickly and survive considerably more cycles.

Perfect for products that are expected to be deployed for years maintenance-free, Ligna believes this technology could save enterprises considerable cash in the long term. While a sensor might only cost a couple
of dollars, sending a technician to physically change a battery could cost hundreds in logistics, even though the battery itself is relatively cheap.
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With large deployments across utility networks, factories, agricultural environments, smart cities and more, the savings realized could be huge.

The core differences come in how supercapacitors store energy compared with conventional batteries electrostatically, rather than chemically. It makes supercapacitors like S-Power 2S better for short bursts of periodic power, in turn leading to much slower degradation and an extremely long lifespan. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro
newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Natural polymers are enabling extreme battery performance will supercapacitors replace batteries? Lignas tech is based on forest-derived materials instead of metals like lithium, cobalt and nickel which is seen as more sustainable and less environmentally toxic. Tree- and plant-derived lignin is the core material here, said to be the second-most abundant natural polymer on Earth after cellulose and responsible for how trees stand upright. Its also readily available as by-product of industries like paper manufacturing.

It is a conventional supercapacitor in terms of electrical performance, but
we have tried to optimise the material stack to remove a few nasty materials and offer a different alternative for our customers, Managing Director John Sderstrm explained.

At the same time, research into energy-harvesting technologies could align with these next-gen supercapacitors to reduce charging or replacement frequency even further. What to read next Dell's new supercapacitor keyboard and mouse combo charges in seconds This lithium-ion breakthrough could solve
a global battery issue Suunto could be prepping a smartwatch with battery
life measured in years

By harvesting energy from indoor light, solar, radio, vibrations and heat exchanges, energy trickling into the supercapacitor could drastically improve lifespan.

When I started at Ligna five years ago, energy harvesting was not widely adopted in wireless electronics, Sderstrm added. What has happened since is that light harvesters have increased efficiency to the point where batteries can be removed even in low-light conditions.

However, Ligna calls for major rearchitecturing across the entire industry, noting that every single component must be optimized for the smallest
possible quiescent current. What it means for the future is likely a new category of products, rather than supercapacitors that can be retrofitted
into existing hardware.

The company is now targeting an eight- to 10-year lifespan for its ultra-thin supercapacitors, on track for mass production though not necessarily at the same price points as some Chinese competitors. Follow TechRadar on Google
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