May 31, 2025 · Vatican City is powered by solar. On May 29, 2025, the Vatican City officially transitioned to solar power, marking a significant shift in the European energy landscape. The
Jul 7, 2025 · The installation of solar panels on Vatican-owned land to the north of the capital follows the photovoltaic glazing of the Cortile delle Corazze and the Vignaccia warehouse of
Dec 20, 2024 · As part of this project, a photovoltaic system is currently being installed in the Vignaccia warehouse in the Vatican Gardens, and is expected to be completed within the first
Dec 22, 2024 · Pope Francis shared his green vision for the Vatican in his ''Brother Sun'' letter in June, announcing plans to install solar panels on a Vatican-owned property outside Rome to
Aug 1, 2025 · ROME (AP) — Italy agreed Thursday to a Vatican plan to turn a 430-hectare (1,000-acre) field north of Rome, once the source of controversy between the two, into a vast solar
Dec 21, 2024 · A key element of this plan involves the installation of solar panels on a Vatican-owned property outside of Rome, with the generated power projected to meet the entire
While not yet fully powered by renewables, the Vatican has steadily expanded its solar infrastructure since 2008: over 2,394 photovoltaic panels—many atop the Paul VI Audience Hall—already generate around 300 MWh of electricity annually.
In 2024, the Vatican announced a new solar plant to be built on Church-owned land outside Rome, positioning the city-state to become the eighth country in the world to run entirely on renewable electricity. The project will also include agricultural activity, creating an “agrivoltaic” site that combines solar energy production with farming.
This project was carried out by ACEA, an Italian utility company, which installed systems to meet all of the Vatican’s energy demands. What makes this significant is not the size, but that Vatican City is only 0.49km², and there was no loud campaign, no press tour, just action set in stone and implemented.
Sometimes the solar arrays are situated on top of greenhouses, interwoven among crops, or elevated plants. Where is the Vatican’s solar installation located? The agrivoltaic plant is situated on the Holy See’s property at Santa Maria di Galeria on the outskirts of Rome.
The Vatican has introduced low-energy lighting systems; over 100,000 LED lights have replaced older fixtures, cutting energy consumption by up to 90% while protecting delicate frescoes from heat exposure. Villa Barberini, Pontificial Gardens at Castel Gandolfo: Photo by Sonse - Villa Barberini Pontifical Gardens, Castel Gandolfo, CC BY 2.0,
Pope Francis last year asked the Vatican to study developing the area into a vast solar farm, hoping to put into practice his preaching about the need to transition away from fossil fuels and find clean, carbon-neutral energy sources. Pope Leo XIV visited the site in June and affirmed that he intended to see Francis’ vision through.
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