The Vatican is preparing to construct a massive 100-million-euro agrivoltaic solar farm near Rome to achieve complete energy independence, according to discussions revealed by Reuters. The project, designed to power both the Vatican City state and its historic radio infrastructure, marks a significant scaling up of the Holy See’s renewable energy initiatives under Pope Francis and his successor, Léon XIV.
Project Scope and Location at Santa Maria di Galeria
The proposed solar installation will take shape at Santa Maria di Galeria, an extraterritorial property belonging to the Holy See located northwest of Rome. According to reporting from Reuters, the site has housed the transmission infrastructure of Vatican Radio since the 1950s. Out of the roughly 450 hectares comprising the estate, approximately 200 hectares will be dedicated to solar panels equipped with sun-tracking systems.
Unlike standard photovoltaic installations, the structures will be elevated to allow farming and agricultural activities to continue directly beneath them. This agrivoltaic approach helps limit water evaporation and shields specific crops from extreme heatwaves, as noted in project details. The facility is expected to generate between 80 and 90 megawatts of power, positioning it among the largest agrivoltaic installations in Italy once completed.
Energy Distribution and Financial Framework
The energy generated at Santa Maria di Galeria will initially feed the Radio Vatican transmission center before extending to cover the complete electricity needs of Vatican City proper. Additional power may also support affiliated institutions, including the Bambino Gesù pediatric hospital in Rome, with any surplus electricity fed back into the Italian national grid.
While the Vatican is not eligible for Italian solar energy subsidies, a bilateral agreement finalized between Italy and the Holy See establishes a privileged status for the project, comparable to existing radio installations. Under the terms of the ratification law, the operation must incur no additional expenses for the Italian public finances, and Italy will exempt the project from certain public taxes and duties.
Environmental Legacy from Benedict XVI to Léon XIV
The initiative builds on a foundation laid by previous pontificates. As noted by the Italian daily newspaper La Verità, Benoît XVI oversaw the installation of approximately 2,400 photovoltaic panels on the roof of the Paul VI Audience Hall in 2008. However, the Santa Maria di Galeria project represents a massive shift in scale for the world’s smallest state.
The current undertaking carries the direct imprint of Pope Francis, who issued an apostolic letter titled Fratello Sole in June 2024, ordering the construction of an agrivoltaic facility to guarantee the state’s complete energy supply. That directive followed his landmark 2015 encyclical, Laudato si’, which placed environmental protection and the fight against climate change at the center of his pontificate. Léon XIV has since advanced the file, establishing the “Fratello Sole” foundation in June to oversee the project’s execution following an agreement signed in July 2025 and enacted on May 27, 2026. The Vatican subsequently signed a framework protocol with Italian energy group ACEA to move forward with design and implementation.
Next Steps and Procurement
Authorities are slated to launch formal calls for tender for construction contracts in the coming weeks. The project timeline remains contingent on final administrative approvals, with construction set to begin once contractors are selected and permits are cleared.
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