Press Release

The new photovoltaic glass roof of the Cortile delle Corazze was inaugurated today at the Vatican Museums. Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga and Barbara Marinali, President of Acea, attended the event.

The plants will significantly support the Museums’ electricity consumption with the production of renewable energy and contribute to reducing the State’s Carbon Footprint.

The intervention, completed in just six months by Areti, a company of the Acea Group responsible for electricity distribution in Rome, adds both aesthetic and functional value to a site that is already iconic in the collective imagination. The replacement of the existing glass with photovoltaic glass panels has created a roof that ensures thermal insulation and a shading effect, significantly enhancing the livability of the spaces.

At the same time, the construction of a new lighting system improved the efficiency of the illumination design and enhanced the site’s aesthetic appeal. Avoiding disruption of the daily flow of visitors entering through the Museums’ main entrance made the challenge even more complex for the technicians during the six months of work. For this reason, they operated on internal and external scaffolding specifically designed to allow all interventions to be carried out safely without hindering the visitors’ experience.

In addition to the Cortile delle Corazze, the project also includes a photovoltaic glass roof of the Vignaccia storage facility in the Vatican Gardens, which will set to be completed within the first six months of the new year. Together, the two system will generate 350 kW of peak photovoltaic power, resulting in an annual production of nearly 500 MWh of electricity.

Additionally, today 20 “quick” charging points have been inaugurated across 10 stations, along with 2 “ultra-fast” charging points at an additional station located on the side of the Paolo VI Audience Hall’s entrance, aimed at promoting the adoption of electric mobility.

Barbara Marinali, President of Acea, stated: “The beauty of art and technological form a perfect combination in the project we are inaugurating today at the Vatican Museums. For Acea, this represents an opportunity to contribute, through the Group’s highest level of professionalism, to one of the most important museums in the world, thus supporting the artistic and cultural sector. Today, we can say that Vatican is becoming increasingly green. This marks another step forwards in our commitment to enhancing infrastructures and providing aligned with the vision of smart cities, in a future where the greatest challenge revolves around the themes of new technology, digitalization, and artificial intelligence.

For more information about the project, visit: https://www.gruppo.acea.it/en/the-sustainable-beauty-of-vatican-museums.