There may be numerous reasons for including a transformer in a design set. Maybe you are simply stepping PV voltage down to service voltage in a behind-the-meter context. Maybe your utility, inverter manufacturer, or authority having jurisdiction needs a specific type of grounding winding pair. As the integration of battery energy storage systems (BESS)  with ... Read more The post Isolation Transformers for PV+Storage appeared first on Mayfield Renewables ..read more

Corvallis, OR — Mayfield Renewables has been providing leading consulting engineering and technical education in the solar-plus-storage industry since 2007. We are happy to announce that Jacob Betcher has been appointed as our Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately. This decision to bring on an experienced CEO to take our vision – providing accessible expertise ... Read more The post Mayfield Renewables Welcomes Jacob Betcher as New Chief Executive Officer appeared first on Mayfield Renewables ..read more

In this installment of our Code Corner series, Ryan Mayfield focuses on the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) changes concerning cable trays, particularly section 690.31 (C). Historically, the NEC has allowed cable trays, but has lacked specific guidelines for sizing conductors and using smaller conductors like PV wire and DG cable on rooftops. The 2023 ... Read more The post Code Corner: 2023 NEC Article 690.31(C) and (C)(2) Cable Tray appeared first on Mayfield Renewables ..read more

Imagine, for a moment, what the grid of the not-too-distant future looks like. Should current trends continue, you’ll likely notice more electric vehicles gliding silently through the streets. You may see more buildings in your neighborhood topped with a solar array, many of them backed up with energy storage. Want hot water or cool air? ... Read more The post UL 3141 and Power Control Systems Explained appeared first on Mayfield Renewables ..read more

Microgrids are a way to maximize the use of clean, renewable energy, both to reduce electricity bills and ultimately drive decarbonization and electrification goals. Since energy consumption can be one of the biggest operational costs for many commercial-scale properties, the ability to reduce, predict, and control monthly expenditures is a welcome scenario. Microgrids also provide ... Read more The post Microgrid Feasibility Studies Define What’s Possible appeared first on Mayfield Renewables ..read more

Depending on where you are in the country, integrating energy storage systems (ESS) with commercial solar photovoltaic (PV) systems offers significant financial benefits. ESS can enhance the cost-effectiveness of solar energy through strategies like energy arbitrage, peak demand reduction, and avoiding PV export penalties. These advantages lead to substantial savings and improve the overall return ... Read more The post Top 3 Reasons ESS Makes Commercial PV Cost-Effective  appeared first on Mayfield Renewables ..read more

Mayfield Renewables is dedicated to training the next generation of solar-plus-storage experts.  Corvallis, OR — Mayfield Renewables announces its inaugural Education Summit at The University of Texas at Austin Commons Conference Center this fall, October 3rd, in Austin, Texas. The Summit will feature notable education and technical training partners, including The University of Texas at ... Read more The post Mayfield Renewables Announces Education Summit 2024 in Austin, TX appeared first on Mayfield Renewables ..read more

In this installment of our Code Corner series, Ryan Mayfield takes up the scope, special requirements, and engineering design for large-scale PV systems not owned and operated by utilities (i.e., 2023 NEC Article 691). Section 691.4 enumerates key compliance details – access, markings, voltage ranges, monitoring – for PV systems with a minimum of 5 ... Read more The post Code Corner: 2023 NEC Article 691 Large-Scale PV appeared first on Mayfield Renewables ..read more

The utility-scale PV market is maturing. Last year, 22.5 GW of utility-scale PV was installed in the US, a 77% jump from 2022. Solar PV accounted for over half (53%) of all new electricity-generating capacity additions for the first time ever. That fact bears repeating: the majority of the new power sources on the grid ... Read more The post Comparing Central vs String Inverters for Utility-Scale PV Projects appeared first on Mayfield Renewables ..read more

In this blog article, we’ll take up the important and sometimes confounding topic of transformer selection for PV and PV-plus-storage projects. We’ll establish straightforward naming conventions for transformers and consider the case of the step-down transformer for a grid-tied PV system. For this discussion, we’ll focus on low-voltage distribution transformers. Windings: What’s in a name?  ... Read more The post Transformer Selection for Grid-Tied PV Systems appeared first on Mayfield Renewables ..read more