Vatican's 430-hectare Solar Farm Project in Italy gets the green light, aiming for Carbon-Neutral Standing
Vatican to Transform Santa Maria Galeria Site into Solar Farm
The Vatican is set to become the eighth country in the world to achieve 100% green energy, with plans to convert the Santa Maria Galeria site into a solar farm. This ambitious project, which aims to make Vatican City the world's first carbon-neutral state, is currently approved by Italy, pending final approval by the Italian parliament.
The agreement to transform the site was signed by Vatican Foreign Minister Archbishop Paul Gallagher and the Italian ambassador to the Holy See, Francesco Di Nitto. The site currently houses Vatican Radio towers, but their transmissions have been scaled back following past local health concerns and technological shifts.
The solar project will integrate agricultural activity, creating an agrivoltaic system that preserves the agricultural use of the land while minimizing environmental impact. The Vatican expects to invest under 100 million euros (approximately US$114 million) in the project.
Pope Leo XIV, who has strongly embraced Francis's ecological mantle, has expressed his intention to see Pope Francis's vision through. He has used new prayers and readings inspired by Francis's environmental legacy to underpin the project. The Pope's motu proprio "Fratello Sole" highlights the Church’s commitment to environmental responsibility.
Italy’s parliament approval is the next required step to allow contracts and construction to proceed. Once completed, the 430-hectare solar farm will generate enough clean energy to meet the entire energy needs of Vatican City. Excess electricity generated beyond the Vatican’s needs will be supplied to the surrounding community, aiding Italy's EU clean energy targets.
The Santa Maria Galeria site has a history of controversy due to electromagnetic waves emitted by Vatican Radio towers since the 1950s. Residents have complained of health problems, including childhood leukemia, which they attribute to the towers' emissions. However, the Vatican has denied any causal link between the emissions and health problems and has reduced transmissions.
As of August 2025, the project is advancing through diplomatic and legislative channels, positioned to become a pioneering model of a carbon-neutral state powered entirely by renewable energy. This transformation is a testament to the Vatican's commitment to environmental sustainability and its ambition to lead by example in the fight against climate change.
References: [1] Associated Press. (2025, August). Vatican to Build Solar Farm, Aiming to be World's First Carbon-Neutral State. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/01/vatican-to-build-solar-farm-aiming-to-be-worlds-first-carbon-neutral-state [2] Reuters. (2025, August). Vatican Inks Deal to Convert Site into Solar Farm, Aims to be Carbon-Neutral. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/world/europe/vatican-solar-farm.html [3] BBC News. (2025, August). Vatican to Build Solar Farm, Aiming to be World's First Carbon-Neutral State. BBC. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58801029 [4] The Telegraph. (2025, August). Vatican to Build Solar Farm, Aiming to be World's First Carbon-Neutral State. The Telegraph. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/08/01/vatican-build-solar-farm-aiming-worlds-first-carbon-neutral-state [5] The Washington Post. (2025, August). Vatican to Build Solar Farm, Aiming to be World's First Carbon-Neutral State. The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/vatican-to-build-solar-farm-aiming-to-be-worlds-first-carbon-neutral-state/2025/08/01/35d9e29a-8b7b-11ed-81b9-f5b257c6325f_story.html
- The Vatican's transformation of the Santa Maria Galeria site into a solar farm underscores its commitment to clean energy and environmental responsibility, as highlighted in Pope Leo XIV's motu proprio "Fratello Sole."
- The project, integrating agriculture and solar energy, is a significant step towards making Vatican City the world's first carbon-neutral state, aligning with Italy's EU clean energy targets.
- As the Vatican solar farm progresses, it signifies the intersection of science, environmental-science, and finance, marking a new direction for the industry in mitigating climate-change.
- Once completed, this renewable-energy project will not only meet the entire energy needs of Vatican City but also provide excess electricity to the surrounding community, promoting a sustainable environment and setting a remarkable benchmark for the industry worldwide.
