Vatican set to go green with huge solar panel roof

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – The Vatican was set to go green on Wednesday with the activation of a new solar energy system to power several key buildings and a commitment to use renewable energy for 20 percent of its needs by 2020.

The massive roof of the Vatican’s “Nervi Hall,” where popes hold general audiences and concerts are performed, has been covered with 2,400 photovoltaic panels — but they will not be visible from below, leaving the Vatican skyline unchanged.

The Holy See’s newspaper said on Tuesday that the Vatican planned to install enough renewable energy sources to provide 20 percent of its needs by 2020, broadly in line with a proposal by the European Union.

Reuters