Vatican City to invest 100 million euros in agrivoltaic plant

Vatican City has announced a 100 million euro investment to construct an agrivoltaic plant in Santa Maria di Galeria, located on the outskirts of Rome. The project aims to achieve energy self-sufficiency within 18 to 24 months.

The facility will feature 200 hectares of mobile solar panels with an estimated capacity of 80 to 90 MW, making it one of the largest in Italy. The agrivoltaic design allows for agricultural crops to be grown beneath the panels, which helps reduce evaporation and protects plants from extreme weather. The energy produced will power Vatican Radio, Vatican City, and the Bambino Gesù hospital, with any surplus being fed into the Italian national grid.

The initiative follows a 2024 push by Pope Francis and includes a legal framework agreement signed between Italy and the Holy See in July 2025. A protocol was also signed with the Italian energy company ACEA to facilitate development. The project aligns with the principles of the Laudato si’ encyclical regarding environmental stewardship.