RENEWABLE ENERGY: Germany’s Residential Battery Storage Subsidy A Success — 4,000 New Systems In 1st Year. Germany solar panels & flag via Shutterstock It’s been just a year since Germany began offering a subsidy for residential lithium-ion battery systems. In that time, already more than 4,000 new solar+battery systems have been installed. The figures — which show the subsidy to be a success — were recently released by Germany’s Federal Solar Industry Association (BSW Solar). Along with the figures, BSW Solar also noted that it expects demand to climb even higher this year. Other interesting stats include the fact that nearly €66 million (US$90.82 million) in low-interest loans were distributed by the development bank over the course of the year, and that about €10 million (US$13.76 million) was given out in grants. According to the association’s managing director, Jorg Mayer, the primary reason for the high demand is that people were increasingly “looking to become independent of fossil fuels and to bring investments in their homes in line with Germany’s wider energy transition (‘Energiewende’)

Mayer also notes that it is possible to get subsidies for a retrofit of an existing system, just that the PV system needs to have been installed after December 2012. In related news, Germany just recently hit a nearly 75% renewable power market share (a new record). This happened on May, 11, 2014, right around noon — to be exact. While that milestone is, on its own, quite notable, another, perhaps more important, milestone was also hit recently — during the first quarter of 2014, renewable energy supplied 27% of Germany’s total electrical demand. Big numbers. And ones that will continue to grow as the country continues pursuing its renewable energy goals. Read more at http://cleantechnica.com/2014/05/18/germanys-residential-battery-storage-subsidy-success-4000-new-systems-1st-year/#vjT0OdbT5qyEkLC1.99

UPDATE: Climate Change May Be Killing All Our Fancy Coffee The Atlantic Wire By Adam Chandler. The American government is stepping in to help farmers in Central America battle a disease that is devastating coffee crops in several important coffee-producing countries. The disease is a fungus known as "coffee rust," it sounds absolutely terrifying, and it could be enabled by climate change.

What does it do? Attacks. The roya fungus is taking a toll in places like Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama, Costa Rica, and Honduras. In Guatemala, a national emergency has been declared. First, parts of the arabica bush's glossy green leaves turn a dirty orange. Then dark dead patches appear and become holes. The infection spreads to the ripening berries, turning them from bright red to a zombie-skin grey. What does it attack? Your precious coffee. Arabica, the bean that makes up many delicious premium coffees, is particularly susceptible. What does this mean for me if I am an unreasonable consumer of coffee? It seems this will either hit your wallet or force you to drink more of those subpar coffee blends that come from Asia. Or both. Washington estimates that production could be down anywhere from 15 percent to 40 percent in coming years, and that those losses could mean as many as 500,000 people could lose their jobs. Though some countries have brought the fungus under control, many of the poorer coffee-producing countries in Latin America don't see the rust problem getting better anytime soon." What can defeat coffee rust? Nothing yet, not even unicorn tears. But the government is reportedly partnering up with Texas A&M University to find a way to eliminate it.