Holy See sees future in solar

The Catholic Church activated its first alternative energy system at the Vatican today, a €1.2 million ($1.6 million) solar array to be used to power lighting, heat and air conditioning for Nervi Hall.

But Reuters reports that 2,400 photovoltaic panels are just the beginning on a strategy to make the Holy See a net exporter of energy. The Vatican plans to follow European Union guidelines to produce 20 percent of its energy needs by 2020 through renewables.

Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, the governor of Vatican City, said officials were also considering a solar energy farm spanning 300 hectares (740 acres) at the Santa Maria di Galeria site just north of Rome.

Pier Carlo Cuscianna, head of technical services for Vatican City, told Reuters the project could produce six times the energy needed.

The system activated today was donated by German companies SolarWorld and SMA Solar Technology. The 108-acre Vatican expects to cut its carbon emissions by about 225 tons as a result.

Officials say no plan for renewables will affect the Vatican's famous skyline, particularly St. Peter's Basilica.

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