Vatican City occupies only about 44 hectares, making it the smallest independent state in the world. Its population is around 800 people, with thousands more travelling into the territory each day to work. Yet the tiny state is preparing for an energy project on a very different scale. The Vatican plans to invest about €100 million, or $117 million, in an agrivoltaic plant intended to supply its electricity needs and move it towards carbon neutrality. The facility will not be built inside Vatican City itself. Instead, solar generation is planned for a much larger piece of Vatican-owned land outside Rome, where the project is expected to take between 18 and 24 months to complete.
Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!
