The Vatican is set to invest roughly 100 million euros in a combined solar and agricultural energy facility on land it owns northwest of Rome, in one of the smallest nations' largest infrastructure projects to date.
The agrivoltaic park, approved by Pope Leo XIV, will be built at the Santa Maria di Galeria complex, a 400-hectare Vatican property where solar panels are expected to cover about half the site. The facility is projected to generate 80 to 90 megawatts of capacity, with construction and permitting expected to take 18 to 24 months.
Surplus energy from the installation will be supplied to Italian households. The project represents a significant undertaking for the Vatican City State, which spans less than half a square kilometre and is home to fewer than 900 residents.