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Mayfield Renewables: Pioneering Solar Education and Engineering
Apr 28, 2025
In the heart of Corvallis, Oregon, Mayfield Renewables is leading a quiet revolution in the solar energy and storage industries. What began as a small startup in 2007 has blossomed into a dynamic consulting business, making cutting-edge solar and energy storage expertise accessible to the masses. At the helm is Ryan Mayfield, whose deep-rooted belief in education and engineering continues to shape the company’s path and its broader impact on the solar industry.
Beneficial State Bank is proud to be the bank for Mayfield Renewables, a partnership that reflects a shared commitment to supporting the future of solar and renewable energy.
As the solar industry rapidly grows, education and engineering expertise is more critical than ever. Educating solar professionals helps maintain high standards. And with increasingly complex systems like microgrids, engineering solutions are key to avoiding inefficiencies and safety risks.
The Development of a Solar Expert
While studying environmental engineering in college, Ryan Mayfield was introduced to renewable energy. "It was something that spoke to me," Ryan recalls. This new interest led him to Colorado, where he took a hands-on job installing solar systems.
“I was crawling around on roofs, digging ditches, and just loved every minute of it,” he says. It was here, working on the front lines of the solar revolution, that Ryan developed an understanding of the practical challenges involved in renewable energy solutions, and he knew there was more to be done.
After a few years, Ryan moved to Southern Oregon and took a position with a solar distributor. There, he served as the bridge between the manufacturers and the installers, answering their questions and seeking the technical answers that would ensure installations went smoothly. "Being the middleman was a great thing for me. I would get questions from the installers that I couldn’t answer, so I would call the manufacturers to get the answers and relay that back to the installers," Ryan explains. This experience opened his eyes to the vast need for better education within the industry.
Building a Cutting-Edge Solar Consulting Business
In 2007, Ryan took the leap and founded Mayfield Renewables. The company began with two key pillars: education and engineering. Although engineering has remained much of their work (about 85%), the educational component is gradually growing.
A New Wave of Solar Engineering: Complex Systems and Microgrids
Mayfield Renewables has carved a niche for itself by focusing on the most complex aspects of solar energy systems: solar-plus-storage, also known as microgrids. These systems are not just standalone solar installations; they involve intricate interactions with utilities and the integration of backup storage and generators to maintain power during outages.
Mayfield Renewables has carved a niche for itself by focusing on the most complex aspects of solar energy systems: solar-plus-storage, also known as microgrids. These systems are not just standalone solar installations; they involve intricate interactions with utilities and the integration of backup storage and generators to maintain power during outages.
As Ryan puts it, “There’s multiple resources and you’re trying to orchestrate all of them to work together properly.” It’s an intricate dance, ensuring that each part of the system operates in the correct sequence to provide seamless power when it's needed most. These systems can quickly become quite complex, but Ryan’s team thrives on that challenge.
“When the grid goes down, you have to create your own grid,” adds Laurel Hamilton, Head of Growth at Mayfield Renewables.
Growing the Solar Industry Through Education
While Mayfield Renewables primarily focuses on engineering, the educational side of the business is a core value that’s gaining momentum. The demand for high-quality technical education in the solar industry has skyrocketed as the sector expands—especially as energy storage and microgrid systems become more commonplace.
"Most of the education we provide is on codes, standards, design, and engineering best practices," Laurel explains. Over the years, Mayfield Renewables has provided training to everyone from engineering firms to solar installers. "Sometimes it makes sense for us to teach our competitors. The solar industry has to grow quickly, and, frankly, I don’t see the negatives of helping our competitors."
This collaborative spirit is at the heart of Mayfield Renewables' approach. "I’d rather see us educate the industry—and have highly qualified people and high-quality systems being installed—as opposed to seeing the industry get a black eye because of poor practices," says Ryan.
A Vision for the Future: Solar Done Right
Looking ahead, Ryan’s goal for Mayfield Renewables is clear: to see the solar industry grow in a sustainable and high-quality way. "Not just solar on every roof, but solar that’s installed well on every roof," Ryan envisions. His hope is that Mayfield Renewables’ educational efforts will play a key role in achieving this vision.
How Lines of Credit Drive Expansion Within the Renewables Industry
Ryan's journey hasn’t just been about solar energy; it’s also been about building relationships with other businesses that share a similar ethos. In this spirit, Mayfield Renewables found a banking partner in Beneficial State Bank. “We went up and met with the people at Beneficial State Bank and just really appreciated Beneficial’s business ethos and what they stand for – the B Corp aspect, the projects they're involved in, and people they're trying to help. So, it lined up quite well with what our business thinking is,” Ryan explains.
Mayfield Renewables was ready to transition from its previous banking relationship. By collaborating with our Earth Services team, they established a business line of credit, helping the company scale its operations and continue its work educating and engineering the future of solar energy.
A line of credit is a flexible loan that businesses like Mayfield Renewables can draw from as needed, providing them with the necessary funds to grow their innovative work. Environmentally focused lending, also known as green lending, not only helps individual businesses thrive but also contributes to the expansion of the renewables industry as a whole.
Beneficial State Bank is proud to support the renewable energy transition, along with the businesses and nonprofits working tirelessly to advance sustainability across the board. Our Earth Services team, launched in 2019, was created to grow our commitment in this space – providing specialized banking products and financing to organizations driving environmental progress. Clients like Mayfield Renewables exemplify the kind of impact we aim to amplify. Their leadership in building a resilient, skilled solar industry in Oregon and beyond is exactly the kind of work we’re honored to stand behind.
A Bright Future Ahead
With a firm foundation built on education, engineering, and collaboration, Mayfield Renewables is poised to continue making waves in the solar and energy storage industries. As the demand for solar energy and storage systems rises, the need for skilled professionals and high-quality installations will only grow. Through their dedication to educating the industry and engineering the most complex systems, Mayfield Renewables is not just shaping the future of solar—it’s creating a brighter, more sustainable tomorrow for all.
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