Vatican goes green using solar energy

(Nov.26, 2008):-Vatican went green for the first time on Wed. with the activation of a new solar energy system to power several key buildings. The inauguration of Vatican’s green event coincided happily with Pope Benedict XVI’s weekly general audience with the installation of solar panels on the roof of Paul VI audience Hall. 2.400 solar panels replacing the concrete roof panels of the Hall will provide electricity in the world's smallest state. The new system on the 5,000 square metre roof will provide for all the year-round energy needs of the hall and several surrounding buildings, producing 300 kilowatt hours of clean energy a year. The system, devised by the German Company “ Solar World,” will allow the 108 acre Vatican State to cut its carbon dioxide emissions by about 225 tonnes and save the equivalent of 80 tonnes of oil each year.” By producing its own energy, the Vatican will become more autonomous from Italy, from where it currently buys all its energy, as the city is surrounded by Rome.
Vatican’s newspaper L’Osservatore Romano said on Tuesday, that the city state planned to install enough renewable energy sources to provide 20% of its needs by 2020, broadly in line with the proposal by the European Union. Pope Benedict has made numerous appeals for the protection of the environment. Environmentalists praised the Pope last year after he made a speech saying the “human race must listen to the voice of the Earth, or risk destroying the planet”.