The Vatican has said its two-year experiment of using solar panels on the roof of the Pope Paul VI Hall was effective, the Vatican's radio announced on Friday.

According to experts, the energy coming from the 2,400 panels covering 5,000 square meters of the roof provide 20% of the power needed by the Vatican.

"Each fifth kilowatt is solar energy turned into electricity," one of the project initiators, a German businessman by the name of Milan Nitschke said.

He said that it was difficult placing the solar panels on the Vatican's roofs because of the specific architecture, however, he added, the experiment can serve as an example for those who doubt the effectiveness of such a power system.

The Vatican is currently discussing two more projects using solar energy: constructing a solar battery electrical station for the Pontiff's radio station and also an electric car for the Pope.

MOSCOW, December 10 (RIA Novosti)