Pope Benedict XVI is setting a green example in Italy by commissioning the use of renewable energy, and the Pope has in the past encouraged Christians not to waste the world’s resources. Engineers at the Vatican intend the solar installation to be the first of several green changes to the Catholic city, however they say that the historical integrity of buildings such as St Peter’s Basilica will not touched.

Italy is one of the world’s biggest importers of electricity, with 80% of their gas and oil coming from elsewhere making power prices in the Mediterranean country among the highest in Europe. Whilst the Vatican is looking to solar energy to solve Italy’s energy shortage, recently re-elected Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has committed to the reintroduction of nuclear power in Italy, over 20 years since the country’s four existing stations were shut down following the Chernobyl disaster. It is believed that there is still significant opposition to nuclear energy which Berlusconi may find difficult to overcome.