Inside the "disappearing battery" revolution — how forest-powered supercapacitors could keep wireless sensors running for years | Tech Radar
Overview
News, deals, reviews, guides and more on the newest computing gadgets
Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more
Details
Unlock and manage exclusive Techradar member rewards.
Unlock instant access to exclusive member features.
Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.
Inside the "disappearing battery" revolution — how forest-powered supercapacitors could keep wireless sensors running for years
Forest-derived supercapacitors could replace batteries in Io T sensors and more.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
Forest-powered supercapacitors could replace batteries in Io T 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 Io T endpoints surges.
The company argues that a growing number of these devices don’t 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.
Ligna’s flagship S-Power 2S offers 1.2F capacitance, a 2.7V operating voltage, 0.5Ω 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.
Io T 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.
New water-powered tech could power batteries that can last hundreds of years without degrading
Chinese researchers develop iron battery 80 times cheaper than lithium
'Self-powering' fabrics could be next the evolution of wearables
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.
Natural polymers are enabling extreme ‘battery’ performance – will supercapacitors replace batteries?
Ligna’s 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. It’s 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 Söderström 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.
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,” Söderström 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 Tech Radar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.
With several years’ experience freelancing in tech and automotive circles, Craig’s specific interests lie in technology that is designed to better our lives, including AI and ML, productivity aids, and smart fitness. He is also passionate about cars and the decarbonisation of personal transportation. As an avid bargain-hunter, you can be sure that any deal Craig finds is top value!
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
1 Ex-Google CEO is key to Ukraine's most formidable drone weapon to date - $5000 Hornet can carry 5 Kg of explosives on a 200 Km, one-way trip
2I just watched a robot kick a child and I'm over it — let's keep robots away from people until these bots are 100% safe
3 Mark Rosewater's infectious love of Marvel has changed my mind on Magic: The Gathering's next Universes Beyond set
4 Meta’s smart glasses might soon sport facial recognition — and the code to power this dystopian feature is already present in the Meta AI app on your phone
5 The latest Summer Game Fest 2026 announcements live from the show in Los Angeles
Tech Radar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.
© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.
Key Takeaways
- News, deals, reviews, guides and more on the newest computing gadgets
- Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more
- Unlock and manage exclusive Techradar member rewards
- Unlock instant access to exclusive member features
- Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards
