Vatican plans €100 million agrivoltaic energy plant near Rome

The Vatican has announced plans to construct a renewable energy plant, valued at approximately €100 million or $117 million, that could potentially power the Holy See with electricity within two years, according to Reuters. This agrivoltaic facility, with a projected capacity of 80 to 90 megawatts, will be the largest of its kind in Italy, combining solar generation with agriculture.

The panels will be installed several meters above the ground, allowing crops to grow beneath them and reducing water evaporation while protecting plants from harsh weather. The site for the plant is the Vatican-owned Santa Maria di Galeria estate, located on Rome's northwestern outskirts. A joint Italian-Vatican commission has begun work after Italy ratified a bilateral development agreement earlier this year.

The construction, permitting, and administrative procedures are expected to take between 18 and 24 months, with contracts expected to be offered through tenders in the coming weeks. The plant will primarily supply Vatican Radio's transmission facilities and aim to make Vatican City fully self-sufficient in energy. It could also power properties associated with the Holy See, including Rome's Bambino Gesù children's hospital.

Any surplus electricity would be distributed to Italy. The Vatican will not be eligible for the financial incentives granted to Italian households and companies installing solar systems. The project, initially promoted by the late Pope Francis and subsequently supported by Pope Leo XIV, will be constructed on a 450-hectare estate housing Vatican Radio transmission equipment since the 1950s.

An estimated 200 hectares of this land will be utilized for solar panels. The agreement grants the project the same status as Vatican Radio facilities, which includes tax and public charge exemptions. The project adheres to Italian law, imposing no additional cost on public finances. The initiative builds upon the Vatican's solar technology installations that began in 2008, when SolarWorld and SMA Solar Technology donated 2,400 photovoltaic panels and related equipment for the roof of Nervi Hall.