Four Years of SiGNE: Advancing the Next Generation of Sustainable Batteries
September 2026 marks four years since the SiGNE project began, bringing together partners from across Europe with a shared ambition: to advance safe, sustainable and high-performance battery technologies for the future.
Since its launch in September 2022, SiGNE has brought together expertise spanning the battery value chain, from advanced materials, electrodes and electrolytes through to cell design and manufacturing, modelling, recycling, sustainability and life-cycle assessment.
Over four years of research and collaboration, the consortium has made significant progress towards SiGNE’s ambitious scientific and technological objectives, while contributing to the wider European effort to develop a more sustainable, competitive and circular battery value chain.
Four years of research and innovation
At the heart of SiGNE has been the development and optimisation of next-generation battery materials and components. Researchers across the consortium have investigated advanced electrode materials, electrolytes and separators, progressively integrating developments across the different areas of the project.
The project has demonstrated encouraging electrochemical performance, including progress towards ambitious targets for energy density, cycling performance and fast charging. Research undertaken within SiGNE has demonstrated fast-charging capabilities at rates of up to 6C in half-cell testing, alongside significant advances in the development of successive generations of SiGNE battery technologies.
A major focus has also been translating innovation from the materials level towards practical cells. Through close collaboration between SiGNE’s work packages, research and component developments have contributed to the design and manufacture of 21700-format cells, helping bridge the gap between laboratory-scale innovation and technologies relevant to future industrial battery production.
Designing circularity into the battery value chain
Sustainability and circularity have been integral to SiGNE from the beginning.
The consortium has investigated approaches for the recovery and recycling of valuable battery materials and components, alongside opportunities to return recovered materials to the battery value chain. This work supports the wider European ambition to reduce dependence on primary raw materials and improve the circularity of future battery technologies.
Technical development has been complemented by Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Costing, allowing environmental and economic considerations to be evaluated alongside battery performance.
Combining physical and digital innovation
SiGNE has also explored how modelling, monitoring and digital tools can contribute to the development of better-performing batteries.
By combining experimental research with modelling and digital approaches, partners have worked to improve understanding of battery behaviour, support cell design and manufacturing, and help predict and optimise performance.
This combination of materials science, engineering, digitalisation and sustainability reflects SiGNE’s holistic approach to developing the next generation of battery technology.
Four years of European collaboration
Perhaps one of SiGNE’s greatest strengths has been the breadth of expertise brought together through the consortium.
Researchers, universities, research organisations and industry partners from across Europe have worked collaboratively across disciplines and organisations, sharing knowledge and addressing challenges throughout the battery value chain.
Beyond the consortium, SiGNE researchers have shared their work through scientific publications, international conferences, webinars, clustering activities and engagement with the wider European battery research community, helping ensure that knowledge generated through the project reaches audiences beyond SiGNE itself.
Looking ahead
As SiGNE enters its final phase, attention is increasingly turning towards consolidating project results, sharing lessons learned and maximising the legacy and impact of four years of research.
The coming months will provide further opportunities to showcase the project’s achievements and reflect on the knowledge generated across the consortium, including through SiGNE’s upcoming Legacy Webinar.
Four years after the project began, SiGNE’s ambition remains the same: to contribute to the development of safer, more sustainable and higher-performing battery technologies capable of supporting Europe’s transition towards clean mobility, renewable energy and a circular economy.
We would like to thank all of the SiGNE partners, researchers and contributors whose expertise, dedication and collaboration have made the project’s achievements possible.
Four years of SiGNE. One shared ambition. The journey continues.
