The ongoing crisis in the Strait of Hormuz—a transit point for 85% of India’s crude oil—has shifted the conversation around solar power. What was once a “green goal” is now being reframed by experts like Ashish Khanna (Director General, International Solar Alliance) as a strategic national security asset.
Here is an explanation of how India can pivot from fossil fuel dependence to solar self-reliance.
1. The Vulnerability: The “Hormuz” Factor
India’s economy is currently tethered to global geopolitics. When the Strait of Hormuz is throttled, India faces:
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Import Shocks: Nearly 90% of LPG and 85% of crude oil imports are at risk.
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Fiscal Strain: Rising oil prices trigger domestic inflation and increase the trade deficit.
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Fallback on Coal: Currently, when oil/gas is disrupted, India reverts to coal to stabilize the grid, deepening carbon lock-in.
2. The Solar Paradox: Why We Waste Power
India added a record 38 GW of solar in 2025, yet it is struggling with a “structural mismatch.”
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The 2.3 TWh Loss: In 2025, India “curtailed” (wasted) 2.3 terawatt-hours of solar energy because the grid couldn’t absorb it.
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The Peak Mismatch: Solar generation peaks at noon, but human demand peaks in the evening after the sun sets.
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Inflexible Baseload: Traditional coal plants (providing 70% of power) cannot ramp down quickly enough during the day to make room for solar.
3. Turning Sunlight into Security: The 4-Step Strategy
To treat solar as critical infrastructure—on par with defense—the following shifts are required:
A. Massive Battery Storage Build-out
Without storage, surplus daytime energy is useless at night. India needs a rapid deployment of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and Pumped Hydro to bridge the sunset gap.
B. The “Electrify Everything” Mission
Solar panels only generate electricity; they don’t power petrol cars or gas stoves directly. National security improves when we swap imports for domestic electrons:
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E-Cooking: Replacing imported LPG with electric induction stoves.
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EV Adoption: Moving transport away from oil to a solar-powered grid.
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Green Hydrogen: Using solar to power heavy industries like steel and fertilizers.
C. Grid Modernization
The current grid was built for a few large coal plants. A solar-secure future requires a Smart Grid that can handle millions of tiny “power plants” on rooftops and farms.
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Transmission Lines: Expanding “Green Energy Corridors” to move power from sunny states (Rajasthan/Gujarat) to industrial hubs.
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Demand Response: Using Time-of-Day pricing to encourage factories to run when the sun is brightest (and power is cheapest).
D. Strategic Programs (PM-KUSUM)
By solarizing agriculture (solar pumps), India can reduce the massive diesel subsidies and free up the rural economy from fuel price volatility.
The Outlook for 2030 and Beyond
India aims for 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030. As Ruchita Shah (Energy Analyst, Ember) notes, the 2025 curtailment was a “real-world stress test.” The technology exists, and the costs have plummeted; the challenge now is speed and system integration.
“Energy security is national security.” — Ashish Khanna, DG, International Solar Alliance.
In an era of recurring energy shocks, the ability to harvest and use domestic sunlight isn’t just an environmental choice—it’s the ultimate defense against global instability.
