Vatican to Build Solar Power Plant

The Vatican is planning to build an agrivoltaic power plant costing about €100m ($117m), which could power it within two years.

According to sources familiar with the project negotiations, the facility, with a capacity of 80 to 90 MW, is set to be among the largest of its kind in Italy. The solar panels will be mounted several meters above the ground so that crops can continue to grow beneath them.

The power plant will be built on about 450 hectares of Vatican-owned land at Santa Maria di Galeria on the outskirts of Rome, where Vatican Radio's broadcasting facilities have been located since the 1950s. The panels are expected to cover about 200 hectares.

The electricity generated will power the Vatican Radio broadcasting station and help ensure the Vatican's energy self-sufficiency. According to sources, other properties associated with the Holy See, including the Bambino Gesù Hospital in Rome, could also benefit from the electricity.

Surplus electricity will be made available to Italy. The project was a priority of the late Pope Francis and has also been supported by Pope Leo XIV. Contracts for its implementation are expected to be issued in the coming weeks.

(Reuters, mja)