CAG mulls performance audit of new and renewable energy sector

Comptroller and Auditor General has planned to undertake an all-India performance audit of the new and renewable energy sector.
Disclosing this at a workshop on new and renewable energy here, CAG Shashi Kant Sharma said the sector has been chosen keeping in view the tremendous growth potential of renewable energy and its growing importance for the economy and well-being of people at large.
New and Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah said the per unit cost of new and renewable energy is expected to decline in future. In recent years, the cost per unit already declined from 18 per unit to eight.

Abdullah stressed on the importance of the new and renewable energy sources in providing energy access to almost 40 per cent of the country's population which lacks energy access at present.
The minister hoped that renewable energy could become the biggest driver of inclusive growth in rural and remote areas, a statement said.
Highlighting the progress made by India in the field of new and renewable energy, Abdullah stated that UPA has given a big thrust to this area and the Jawaharlal Nehru Solar Mission launched in January, 2010 has led to great success in the area of solar power.

He said that the country today has become fifth in the world in wind power generation and has developed wind turbines capable of generating eight megawatt of power.