India, April 3 -- Solar power has a vital role to play in these uncertain times. It is cheap, abundant and carbon-free. It can uniquely balance demands for energy security, economic resilience, job creation and climate change. Combined with storage capacity, reliable solar power is now available for 16-18 hours a day at a price about 30-40% lower than greenfield thermal, hydro or nuclear power.

Here is some good news. India's solar sector has been booming thanks to strong policy support combined with ongoing improvements in technology and falling cost. Last 2 years have seen annual growth of over 50% in installations. Despite all this, share of solar power in the grid stands at a measly 9%. The question is why not do more.

A key challen...