diff --git a/openleadr/messaging.py b/openleadr/messaging.py
index 5663fe1..c8d4c59 100644
--- a/openleadr/messaging.py
+++ b/openleadr/messaging.py
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@
 from openleadr import errors
 from datetime import datetime, timezone, timedelta
 import os
+from signxml.algorithms import SignatureMethod
+from cryptography.hazmat.primitives import serialization
+from cryptography.hazmat.primitives.asymmetric import rsa, dsa, ec, ed25519, ed448
 
 from openleadr import utils
 from .preflight import preflight_message
@@ -30,9 +33,6 @@
 import logging
 logger = logging.getLogger('openleadr')
 
-SIGNER = XMLSigner(method=methods.detached,
-                   c14n_algorithm="http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/REC-xml-c14n-20010315")
-SIGNER.namespaces['oadr'] = "http://openadr.org/oadr-2.0b/2012/07"
 VERIFIER = XMLVerifier()
 
 XML_SCHEMA_LOCATION = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), 'schema', 'oadr_20b.xsd')
@@ -62,6 +62,45 @@ def parse_message(data):
     return message_type, message_payload
 
 
+def load_private_key(key_data, passphrase=None):
+    """
+    Load the key based on key data. Supports .pem and .der keys.
+
+    Returns a private key object.
+    """
+    passphrase_bytes = passphrase.encode() if passphrase else None
+    try:
+        key = serialization.load_pem_private_key(key_data, passphrase_bytes)
+    except ValueError:
+        try:
+            key = serialization.load_der_private_key(key_data, passphrase_bytes)
+        except ValueError:
+            logger.warning("Could not load key: unknown key file format.")
+    return key
+
+
+def get_signature_algorithm_from_private_key(key_data, passphrase=None, default_algorithm="rsa-sha256"):
+    """
+    Derive a signature algorithm based on the private key type. Returns a string that can be used to lookup
+    a signature algorithm by fragment. Algorithms are chosen based on NIST recommendations.
+
+    SignXML supports only RSA-, DSA- and EC-based signature methods. As XMLSigner uses RSA_SHA256 as default
+    signature algorithm, a fragment that results in this algorithm is returned for unsupported keys.
+    """
+    key = load_private_key(key_data, passphrase)
+    if isinstance(key, rsa.RSAPrivateKey):
+        return "rsa-sha256"
+    elif isinstance(key, dsa.DSAPrivateKey):
+        return "dsa-sha256"
+    elif isinstance(key, ec.EllipticCurvePrivateKey):
+        return "ecdsa-sha256"
+    elif isinstance(key, ed25519.Ed25519PrivateKey):
+        logger.warning("ED25519 keys are not supported")
+    elif isinstance(key, ed448.Ed448PrivateKey):
+        logger.warning("ED448 keys are not supported")
+    return default_algorithm
+
+
 def create_message(message_type, cert=None, key=None, passphrase=None, disable_signature=False, **message_payload):
     """
     Create and optionally sign an OpenADR message. Returns an XML string.
@@ -72,6 +111,12 @@ def create_message(message_type, cert=None, key=None, passphrase=None, disable_s
     envelope = TEMPLATES.get_template('oadrPayload.xml')
     if cert and key and not disable_signature:
         tree = etree.fromstring(signed_object)
+        SIGNER = XMLSigner(
+            method=methods.detached,
+            c14n_algorithm="http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/REC-xml-c14n-20010315"
+            )
+        SIGNER.namespaces['oadr'] = "http://openadr.org/oadr-2.0b/2012/07"
+        SIGNER.sign_alg = SignatureMethod.from_fragment(get_signature_algorithm_from_private_key(key, passphrase))
         signature_tree = SIGNER.sign(tree,
                                      key=key,
                                      cert=cert,
@@ -83,7 +128,8 @@ def create_message(message_type, cert=None, key=None, passphrase=None, disable_s
         signature = None
     msg = envelope.render(template=f'{message_type}',
                           signature=signature,
-                          signed_object=signed_object)
+                          signed_object=signed_object
+                          )
     logger.debug(f"Created message: {msg}")
     return msg
 
diff --git a/test/test_signature_algorithms.py b/test/test_signature_algorithms.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dea53d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_signature_algorithms.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+import pytest
+from cryptography.hazmat.primitives import serialization
+from cryptography.hazmat.primitives.asymmetric import rsa, dsa, ec, ed25519, ed448
+from openleadr.messaging import get_signature_algorithm_from_private_key
+
+
+test_keys = {
+    "rsa": rsa.generate_private_key(public_exponent=65537, key_size=2048),
+    "dsa": dsa.generate_private_key(key_size=2048),
+    "ec": ec.generate_private_key(ec.SECP256R1()),
+    "ed25519": ed25519.Ed25519PrivateKey.generate(),
+    "ed448": ed448.Ed448PrivateKey.generate()
+}
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("key_type, expected_alg", [
+    ("rsa", "rsa-sha256"),
+    ("dsa", "dsa-sha256"),
+    ("ec", "ecdsa-sha256"),
+    ("ed25519", "rsa-sha256"),
+    ("ed448", "rsa-sha256"),
+])
+def test_key_type_sign_alg_match(key_type, expected_alg):
+    test_key = test_keys[key_type]
+    key_encoding = serialization.Encoding.PEM
+    key_format = serialization.PrivateFormat.PKCS8
+    key_encryption_alg = serialization.NoEncryption()
+    key_bytes = test_key.private_bytes(key_encoding, key_format, key_encryption_alg)
+
+    detected_alg = get_signature_algorithm_from_private_key(key_bytes)
+
+    assert detected_alg == expected_alg