Vatican to Build €100 Million Renewable Energy Plant

Vatican City is planning the construction of a renewable energy plant at the Santa Maria di Galeria estate on the northwestern outskirts of Rome. The project, estimated to cost roughly €100 million, will utilize an agrivoltaic system that combines solar power and agriculture with an expected capacity of 80 to 90 megawatts.

The plant aims to make the Vatican City State fully energy self-sufficient. It will provide power to the transmission station of Vatican Radio and other Holy See-linked properties, including the Bambino Gesù hospital. Any surplus electricity generated by the facility will be supplied to Italy.

The initiative follows a 2025 bilateral agreement between Italy and the Vatican, which grants the site special status and exemptions from Italian taxes. Construction is expected to take 18 to 24 months, and contracts for the work are scheduled for tender in the coming weeks.