Dec 8 2010
‘The Energy of the Sun in the Vatican’, a new book released by Holy See, supports the use of renewable energy. The book provides details on two renewable energy projects undertaken by Holy See within Vatican City.
The book outlines the details of a solar cooking plant kept over the cafeteria and a photovoltaic plant placed over the Paul VI Audience Hall. The photovoltaic plant incorporates around 2,400 PV panels and the installation was finished in 2008. Both the green initiatives of the holy city will remove around 305 tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year. The solar installation at the Vatican was sponsored, built and installed by SolarWorld, a German-based company. President of the Governatorate of Vatican City State, Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, who addressed the gathering on the eve of the book release, said that solar energy provides unlimited options and he stressed the need of utilizing renewable energy sources to challenge the climatic changes.
Milan Nitzschke, SolarWorld’s Vice President, said that the power generated by the solar installation over the building goes beyond the total power requirement of the building and meets nearly 20% of the electric power required by the holy city of Vatican. He added that it proves to everyone all over the world that more solar energy can be generated from the roof top than the one actually required by the house under the roof. He further said that his company took adequate care to design the solar plant that went along with preserving the architecture of the building.
Pope Benedict XVI, who is referred by many as Green Pope is looking forward to have a solar powered Popemobile and the idea received acclaims from all over the world.
Source: http://www.solarworld.de/