An ancient Pompeii villa lit up by photovoltaic tiles

Pompeii's new solar tiles, mimicking ancient terracotta, illuminate the frescoes while preserving their historic aesthetic.

Share:

Villa Pompéi tuiles solaires

The Pompeii site has ushered in an era of innovation with solar roof tiles that resemble ancient Roman tiles. This development protects the aesthetics of the site while generating clean energy. Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeii site, expresses his hope: “If Pompeii is a unique site because of its size and complexity (…) I hope that this project will not be unique”. The director would like to see Pompeii transformed into a “real laboratory for sustainable development”.

A fresco revealed in a new light

The Villa of Mysteries, buried since the eruption of Vesuvius, now benefits from special lighting via these panels. These devices illuminate an exceptional fresco, revealing mysterious rituals linked to Dionysus, without risking damage to the paintings through excessive exposure to light. The pilot project “showcases an extraordinary mural found in 1909 under metres of volcanic ash”, according to site managers.

Expansion and adoption plans

Ahlux, the company behind the technology, has already covered 70 m² of the villa’s roof. With over 15 hours of sunshine in summer, the potential for expansion is immense. Other sites, from Rome to Milan, have expressed interest in these innovations, which combine conservation and functionality. Ahlux founder Augusto Grillo stresses that “the problem is finding the funds”.

Financing and future challenges

The main obstacle remains funding, especially as many historic buildings are owned by public or religious bodies. Italy, faced with strict European directives to reduce carbon emissions, is seeking co-investment to meet these ambitious targets. Angelica Donati, president of the young builders’ association ANCE Giovani, asserts that “we have the most beautiful cities in the world, which means we need much more thoughtful interventions, and quickly”.

Environmental impact and European perspectives

This initiative comes at a time when Europe is pushing for massive ecological renovation. Italy, in particular, faces the challenge of modernizing its infrastructure while preserving its unique architectural heritage. Under new European legislation, states must retrofit buildings to reduce their carbon emissions by 55% by 2030, compared with 1990 levels.

Photovoltaic roof tiles in Pompeii illustrate how technology can help preserve historic sites. This balance between innovation and conservation suggests a promising future for other sites.

Sol Systems has secured a $675mn credit facility to accelerate the development of 500 MW of solar and storage projects in Illinois, Ohio and Texas, backed by an international banking consortium.
The rapid rise of solar energy is disrupting Pakistan’s electricity sector, forcing the government to revise its tariff policy and introduce new taxes on solar panel imports.
Sabanci Renewables announces the acquisition of the Texan solar project Pepper from OCI Energy, strengthening its US portfolio to 660 MW and paving the way for an increase to 3 GW by 2030.
The results of recent Polish auctions reveal a predominance of photovoltaic solar, with 178 projects selected and a total capacity of 1.67 GW, while other segments found no takers.
The National Solar Energy Federation, launched on 21 June and formalised on 14 July, brings together installers, equipment suppliers and financiers to defend photovoltaics against political criticism as Paris prepares a new energy roadmap.
A $60mn subordinated loan will speed delivery of equipment for a 223 MWp solar-storage plant serving the Kamoa-Kakula copper complex, deepening the financial partnership between CrossBoundary Energy and Standard Bank South Africa.
New York developer DESRI, together with utility El Paso Electric, starts construction of the 150 MWac Santa Teresa solar complex and its 600 MWh storage system, financed by an international banking consortium.
Renewable developer Geronimo Power begins construction of the 250 MW Portage Solar park, expected to generate more than $100 mn in cumulative economic impact in Wisconsin, according to a news release issued on July 15 by PR Newswire.
African Trade & Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI) provides a liquidity guarantee to the Sokodé solar project, facilitating private financing for a 62 MW plant dedicated to Compagnie Énergie Électrique du Togo.
Three major players commit to developing five solar plants and two wind farms, with commissioning scheduled between 2027 and 2028 as part of Saudi Arabia’s national programme.
SAEL Industries will invest $954mn in a solar factory in Greater Noida, boosting Indian manufacturing capacity and supporting the national strategy to localise photovoltaic component production.
Global photovoltaic inverter shipments increased by 10% in 2024, driven by the Asia-Pacific region, which accounts for nearly seven out of ten shipments, while China consolidates its influence on the sector.
Arctech Brazil has received FINAME certification from the National Bank for Economic and Social Development, making financing more accessible for its solar trackers and consolidating its role in the Latin American solar market.
MN8 Energy completes a $575mn secured bond issue led by Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking to refinance project debt and support the development of a diversified solar portfolio in the United States.
Solargik strengthens its presence in Italy with 85 MW of photovoltaic projects, including partnerships with Revalue and Free Ingegneria, to deploy systems on steep and agricultural land previously considered unexploitable.
EDF power solutions commissions two new photovoltaic plants in Moselle, together representing a capacity of 72 MWp, capable of annually supplying electricity equivalent to 36,000 inhabitants, or 30% of the population of Metz.
Solar energy reached a record share of 22.1% in the European electricity mix in June 2025, becoming for the first time the main source of electricity in the European Union, according to a report by think tank Ember.
Abraxas Power Corp. receives unprecedented authorisation from Maldivian authorities to develop a 100 MW solar project within a new special economic zone, targeting energy security and national climate objectives.
GreenYellow and Meaders Feeds Ltd finalise a second 1.8 MWp solar project under the Carbon Neutral Industrial Sector Scheme aimed at decarbonising the Mauritian industrial sector.
The Lime Kiln project, developed by Chaberton Energy and Pivot Energy, will provide renewable energy to 500 homes and businesses in Maryland, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.