The Vatican plans to build a large solar power plant at Santa Maria di Galeria near Rome, with a potential capacity of 80–90 MW and an estimated cost of about €100 million. The project aims to help the Vatican achieve energy independence by supplying electricity to Vatican facilities, including the Vatican Radio transmission complex. The solar panels will be elevated above agricultural land, allowing crops to continue growing underneath while providing shade that could reduce water evaporation and protect crops from extreme weather.
Key Overview
- Location: Santa Maria di Galeria, near Rome
- Estimated capacity: 80–90 MW
- Estimated cost: Approximately €100 million
- Land coverage: Around 200 hectares
- Construction timeline: 18–24 months
- Main purpose: Meet the Vatican’s electricity needs
- Additional benefit: Surplus electricity could be supplied to Italy’s grid
- Technology: Elevated solar panels combined with agricultural production
- Tenders: Expected to be launched in the coming weeks
Vatican Plans Major Solar Power Project Near Rome
The Vatican is planning to develop a large solar power plant on Vatican-owned land at Santa Maria di Galeria near Rome, as part of efforts to achieve greater energy independence.
The project, announced on August 22, 2026, is expected to generate enough electricity to fully cover the Vatican’s own energy requirements. The proposed facility could have a capacity of 80–90 megawatts , with the project estimated to cost approximately 100 million euros.
The solar development would be built on agricultural land, combining renewable energy generation with continued farming activities.
Solar Panels to Support Agriculture
The project will use solar panels elevated several metres above the ground. This design will allow agricultural crops to continue growing underneath the panels while electricity is generated above them.
The arrangement could also provide agricultural benefits. The shade created by the panels may help reduce water evaporation and protect crops from extreme weather conditions, making the project an example of an approach that combines renewable energy with agricultural production.
Solar panels could cover around 200 hectares, representing nearly half of the estate’s total area.
This approach could allow the Vatican to use the land for both clean electricity generation and agricultural production rather than dedicating the entire site exclusively to solar infrastructure.
Project Could Take Up to Two Years
Construction, together with the necessary permitting and administrative procedures, is expected to take approximately 18 to 24 months.
A joint Italian-Vatican commission met earlier this month to begin work on the project after Italy ratified a bilateral agreement with the Vatican covering development of the site.
The project’s final cost, capacity and completion schedule have not yet been publicly confirmed. Tenders for the work are expected to be launched in the coming weeks.
Solar Power to Support Vatican Facilities
The primary purpose of the solar facility is to provide electricity to the Vatican and help the state achieve its goal of energy independence.
The electricity generated is expected to support Vatican Radio’s transmission station, which is located at Santa Maria di Galeria, as well as other facilities associated with the Holy See.
Potential beneficiaries could also include Vatican-linked facilities in Rome, such as Bambino Gesù Hospital.
Any electricity generated beyond the Vatican’s requirements is planned to be supplied to Italy’s power grid, allowing excess renewable electricity to contribute to the wider energy system.
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Vatican Combines Solar Generation With Agriculture
The agricultural component is an important feature of the proposed project. By installing solar panels several metres above the ground, crops will be able to continue growing beneath the structures.
The panels could also create a microclimate that offers some protection against extreme weather while reducing direct exposure to sunlight and potentially limiting water loss through evaporation.
This type of dual-use development allows the same land to support both agricultural activity and renewable electricity generation.
For the Vatican, the model could provide an opportunity to increase renewable energy production without completely removing agricultural use from the site.
Surplus Power Could Enter Italy’s Grid
Although the project is primarily intended to meet the Vatican’s electricity requirements, surplus generation is expected to be made available to Italy.
This could create a two-way benefit: the Vatican would gain greater energy independence while excess renewable electricity could contribute to Italy’s power supply.
The project therefore links the Vatican’s energy strategy with the wider development of renewable energy infrastructure in Italy.
Vatican Will Not Use Italian Solar Incentives
The Vatican will not be eligible for Italy’s financial incentives for solar power installations.
Instead, the project is being developed through the bilateral arrangements between Italy and the Vatican and is intended to serve the Vatican’s long-term energy requirements.
The decision means the proposed solar plant will be developed independently of the incentive mechanisms available to private solar installations in Italy.
Outlook
The planned solar facility represents a major step in the Vatican’s efforts to strengthen energy independence and increase renewable electricity generation.
With a potential capacity of up to 90 MW, the project could provide enough electricity to cover the state’s needs while supporting Vatican Radio and other associated facilities. Its agrivoltaic design could also demonstrate how renewable energy infrastructure can coexist with agricultural production.
If construction proceeds within the estimated 18–24-month timeframe, the project could become an important renewable-energy installation near Rome. The ability to supply surplus electricity to Italy would further increase its contribution beyond the Vatican’s own energy requirements.
FAQs
1. How much will the Vatican solar project cost?
The proposed solar power plant is estimated to cost approximately €100 million, although the final project cost has not yet been publicly confirmed.
2. Where will the Vatican solar plant be built?
The facility is planned for Santa Maria di Galeria near Rome, on Vatican-owned land that also contains agricultural areas.
3. How much electricity will the Vatican solar plant generate?
The proposed facility could have a capacity of approximately 80–90 MW and is intended to fully cover the Vatican’s electricity needs.
4. Will surplus electricity be sold to Italy?
Yes. Electricity generated beyond the Vatican’s requirements is planned to be supplied to Italy’s power grid.
Sources: Business Recorder, Union of Orthodox Journalists, UNN, Energy Update Magazine
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