The solar industry has come a long way since its early days of small off-grid systems. With utility-scale solar farms now measured in the 100s of megawatts, grid penetration rising fast, and batteries no longer a novelty but a necessity, there's a world of knowledge required to be successful in solar + BESS.
To help make sense of the current solar and storage landscape, we're joined today on the Clean Power Hour by expert Ryan Mayfield, CEO of Mayfield Renewables. With over 20 years of experience spanning solar's evolution from niche to mainstream, Ryan offers invaluable insights on everything from modeling tools to regional trends.
Ryan has a storied career starting as a solar installer in the late 1990s. He progressed to engineering, training, and now leads Mayfield Renewables providing feasibility studies, design services, and education around complex solar plus storage projects.
Ryan explains key considerations for behind-the-meter commercial solar plus storage projects aimed at resiliency. This includes understanding budget limitations, identifying critical loads, and the importance of detailed feasibility studies and monitoring. He discusses best practices for technical and financial modeling to optimize system design and ROI.
When it comes to choosing compatible components, Ryan notes there are still a limited number of manufacturers with proven commercial-scale solutions. He emphasizes the ongoing need for education and training to support the continued growth of solar plus storage.
The conversation also covers trends in different U.S. states, utility involvement, grid services, EVs as potential distributed storage, and more. Ryan stresses that storage expertise is now mandatory for solar professionals. He advises solar companies to embrace education and find experienced partners to successfully add storage to their project portfolio.
Key Takeaways
1. Load monitoring and detailed technical/financial modeling helps optimize system design and demonstrate ROI.
2. The Midwest, Texas and Southwest are growth markets to watch for near-term solar + storage project development and innovation.
3. Regional incentives and utility involvement are driving storage adoption in states like California, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont and Illinois.
4. Understanding the client's goals and critical loads is crucial when designing behind-the-meter solar + storage systems aimed at resiliency.
Social Media Handles
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanmayfield/
http://www.mayfield.energy/
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The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. CPS America has offices in California, New Jersey, and Texas. Learn more at https://www.chintpowersystems.com/
0:00 - Intro
2:02 - Ryan Mayfield's Background & Early Solar Career
12:49 - Considerations for Behind-the-Meter Solar + Storage Projects
19:07 - Modeling Tools & Processes
21:05 - Integrating EVs & Vehicle-to-Grid Capabilities
24:22 - Ryan's Customer Base
25:40 - What EPCs need to Know about Solar and Storage
31:44 - Trusted Manufacturers at Commercial Scale Recommendations
33:25 - The Importance of Education & Training
35:10 - Regional Markets & Drivers for Solar + Storage
40:29 - Outlook & Advice for Solar Professionals
42:13 - Partnering for Expertise & Value Stacking
45:57 - Conclusion
