The late Pope Francis' goal of powering the Vatican by 100% solar energy is happening now as Vatican City becomes the first fully powered solar state. This is pretty interesting as the Vatican joints a growing list of countries using 100% renewable energy. Perhaps even more intriguing is the way the Vatican did it – they used agrivoltaics.
This is not just about rooftop panels; it's about how science, sustainability, and faith can coexist and set the pace for the rest of the world to follow. 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 Pope has given full authority to two special Commissioners to supervise the plant's construction, ensuring that the project is carried out efficiently and effectively. The energy generated by this solar plant will cover all the Vatican's energy needs, eliminating dependence on non-renewable energy sources.
The Vatican's solar shift is a culmination of a political and spiritual mission years in the making. In 2024, the late Pope Francis issued an apostolic letter ordering the construction of an agrivoltaic solar plant to supply the Vatican with energy from Santa Maria di Galeria. On the same site, the new solar infrastructure now stands.
By promoting energy efficiency and reducing light consumption from non-renewable sources, the Vatican is leading by example to a more sustainable and equitable future.
Vatican City''s solar panels provide a significant portion of the energy needed for key buildings like the Paul VI Audience Hall, demonstrating a strong commitment to transitioning to renewable energy.
Committed to reducing polluting emissions, the Holy See has signed the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The photovoltaic plant under construction will enable the transition to a "sustainable
The construction will take place on Vatican property approximately 11 miles from Rome, in the area of Santa Maria di Galeria. The property is currently used for broadcasting Vatican Radio.
Pope Francis''s goal was for the Vatican to run on green energy, so photovoltaic panels were installed on a Vatican-owned property outside of Rome. Today, the power generated by the sun
To model what this could look like, he announced that solar panels would be installed on a Vatican-owned property outside Rome, and the power generated from that could supply all of
The world''s smallest country just made a big move: Vatican City is now powered entirely by solar energy, setting an example for global climate action.
The Vatican is now completely powered by a farm that sports solar panels to help shade-tolerant crops thrive. This new coupling of solar and agriculture is growing fast.
The project aims to meet the full energy needs of both the Vatican State and Vatican Radio using solar technology integrated with agricultural activity.
The system combines photovoltaic panels with absorption chillers —a smart pairing that turns sunlight into cooling power. Unlike traditional AC units, this setup slashes grid dependency by 40%,
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