The Vatican plans to build a power plant costing around €100 million, which is intended to provide electricity to the Holy See and contribute to the state’s energy independence, Reuters reports, writes UNN.
Details
The project envisions combining solar generation with agriculture. The future plant’s capacity is estimated at 80–90 MW, which could make it one of the largest agrivoltaic installations in Italy.
The solar panels will be installed several meters above the ground so that agricultural crops can be grown beneath them. The shade from the panels is also expected to reduce water evaporation and protect plants from extreme weather conditions.
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The project will be implemented on the grounds of the approximately 450-hectare Santa Maria di Galeria estate on the northwestern outskirts of Rome. Since the 1950s, it has housed transmission facilities of Vatican Radio.
The electricity is intended to meet the Vatican’s needs
An Italian-Vatican joint commission held a meeting at the beginning of August to launch the project. This became possible after Italy ratified a bilateral agreement in 2025 allowing the site to be developed.
According to Reuters sources, construction of the plant could take 18 to 24 months, taking into account permitting and administrative procedures. Contracts for the work are expected to be put out to tender in the coming weeks.
Solar panels could cover around 200 hectares of the site, or nearly half of the estate’s area. The electricity is planned to be used to operate Vatican Radio’s transmission station and other facilities associated with the Holy See. These could include the Bambino Gesù hospital in Rome.
The surplus electricity generated is planned to be supplied to Italy. At the same time, the Vatican will not use the financial incentives available to Italian households and businesses that install solar power plants.
The idea was conceived by the former Pope
The project was one of the priorities of the late Pope Francis and received the approval of Pope Leo XIV. The bilateral agreement between Italy and the Vatican also extended to the agrivoltaic plant the special status already held by Vatican Radio facilities, including exemption from Italian taxes and state fees.
At the same time, the Italian law ratifying the agreement stipulates that its implementation must not create a new or additional burden on public finances.
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