Vatican Plans Solar and Agriculture Plant to Meet Its Electricity Needs

ROME, August 22, 2026 — The Vatican is planning to build a renewable energy plant costing approximately €100 million (US$117 million) that could provide enough electricity to meet the Holy See’s energy needs within two years, according to sources involved in discussions on the project.

The planned facility will combine solar power generation and agriculture, using an agrivoltaic system that allows crops to grow beneath elevated solar panels.

The project is expected to have a capacity of 80–90 MW, which would make it one of Italy’s largest agrivoltaic installations, according to two sources.

€100 Million Solar and Agriculture Project

The project is expected to take approximately 18 to 24 months to complete.

Under the planned agrivoltaic system, solar panels would be installed several metres above the ground, allowing agricultural activities to continue beneath them.

The elevated panels can also provide shade for crops, helping reduce water evaporation and protecting plants from extreme weather conditions.

The combination of agricultural production and solar generation allows the project to make dual use of the land while producing renewable electricity.

Construction Contracts to Go to Tender

Contracts for the development and construction work are expected to go out to tender in the coming weeks, according to the sources.

With a planned capacity of up to 90 MW, the project would represent a significant renewable energy development for the Vatican and could substantially increase its ability to generate electricity from renewable sources.

Agrivoltaics Gains Momentum in Europe

The Vatican project highlights the growing interest in agrivoltaics, which combines photovoltaic generation with agricultural production on the same land.

By installing solar panels above crops rather than replacing agricultural activities entirely, agrivoltaic projects can help address land-use challenges while expanding renewable energy capacity.

If completed within the expected timeframe, the Vatican’s planned facility could become a notable example of how solar power and agriculture can be integrated into a single renewable energy project.