News Archive
2009
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August 10, 2009 -Duke Energy Applies for $214 million in Stimulus Funding
Long-time Ambient customer, Duke Energy, is continuing deployment of its smart grid, or “energy internet”, projects as described in an announcement last week detailing plans to apply for DOE stimulus funding. Ambient Corporation recently provided a letter of support for Duke Energy’s application of $214 million in DOE Smart Grid Investment Grant Funding Opportunities (DE-FOA-0000058).
Duke Energy and Ambient have worked together on smart grid development and deployment projects for several years. In making this announcement, Duke detailed plans to accelerate its modernization programs in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky in what the company describes as “one of the largest smart grid initiatives in the country.”
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July 1, 2009 - Smart Grid Today: Ambient, Itron team up for end-to-end smart grid play
Ambient added another metering firm to its stable -- one whose size and global scope may well expand Ambient's footprint, Ambient CEO John Joyce told us yesterday. The smart grid networking integrator/operator works with Echelon for electric utilities, and Badger for water and gas utilities.
“We're incorporating both the PLC technology and the RF technology into our network,” so the new agreement with Itron helps, said Joyce. His firm holds patents on PLC equipment and has long been a leading contender in the business with deals doing trials at Duke Energy and Consolidated Edison.
Itron was an attractive business partner since “it's a global company that has a significant legacy system product in the field here in North America as well,” said Joyce. “We believe with the Itron/Verizon/Ambient name, we can offer a full solution to the utility.” Ambient has a joint-marketing agreement with Verizon as does Itron.
And Ambient's X-3000 node -- a newer, lighter version of the X-2000 -- is certified for the Verizon network. It is designed to be deployed at the transformer where it can give a utility “a real-time view into its distribution grid,” including current and voltage sensing, thus the grid can be better managed, said Joyce.
Ambient in April signed a supply and alliance pact for smart grid product development and deployment with Bel Fuse, a designer and maker of products used in networking, telecom, high-speed data transmission and consumer electronics (SGT, Apr-15 http://www.smartgridtoday.com/members/159.cfm).
The 40-employee Ambient would clearly like to do business around the world, but it sees plenty to be done with Itron's “significant” deployments in North America, Joyce noted. “We see this as a way to enhance our Ambient technology/product as well as to offer Itron a solution that will benefit its existing customers.”
As a matter of fact, the partnership began a couple of months ago, Joyce recalled, when Ambient and Itron created a way to incorporate into a utility's smart grid platform older Itron technology.
“That was the initial focus,” he explained -- taking some meters that were deployed and still part of the rate base and incorporating them into the evolving smart grid so as not to create stranded assets. http://www.smartgridtoday.com/public/department40.cfm#strandedasset
The pair found their engineering teams could pull into the communications network more regular reads than were happening in a drive-by system and bring the data back to the central office.
“That led to looking at different ways to incorporate Itron's core consumer and commercial AMI technologies with Ambient's high-capacity communications network for a complete utility-to-the-home smart grid solution,” said Joyce.
Ambient has been focused for a decade on “the digital communication backbone and the element-management system” that delivers advanced metering and other smart grid initiatives, Joyce reminded.
In addition to Ambient's X-3000 node, the pact with Itron includes Ambient's network management system. Itron is contributing AMR and AMI technology.
Ambient sees “huge” opportunities working with both older and newer Itron technology, Joyce said.
Itron and Ambient are set to jointly market their collaborative offerings to utilities.
BOTTOM LINE: That mention of stranded assets goes to the heart of a deep concern for utilities as they feel the pressure to replace equipment that, as we sometimes say, “ain't broke.” It's an issue we are probing in ongoing reporting including an interview in today's issue with a key Trilliant executive.
This story has been reproduced from the July 1, 2009 issue of Smart Grid Today with the permission of the publisher, MMI Inc. To view the full story on Smart Grid Today’s website, please visit http://www.smartgridtoday.com/public/456.cfm?sd=31.
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June 9, 2009 - Ambient Comment on Duke Energy Smart Grid Announcement
We are excited to send along some updated information today about the smart grid deployment progress at Duke Energy. You may have read today that Duke Energy is working with Cisco Systems to fast track Duke's commitment to Internet protocol-based open standards, which has been at the forefront of Duke's and Ambient's strategy. We believe this strategy compliments and confirms our approach with Duke.
This announcement is only the latest in recent trends to define the open standards-based architecture for smart grids. We believe that Ambient Smart Grid™ is already well positioned to meet most of those requirements and easily adapted to meet any additional requirements.
We continue to work with our existing and potentially new customers and technology partners to develop our system and plan for larger deployments later this year.
We hope to see you at our Annual Meeting on June 19th as well as our upcoming presentations at the UPA's "Plug into Profit '09," GridWeek 2009 and other events. Please visit our Website at www.ambientcorp.com for our latest news and for more information.
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May 19, 2009 - Locke, Chu Announce Significant Steps in Smart Grid Development
WASHINGTON - U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced significant progress that will help expedite development of a nationwide "smart" electric power grid.
A Smart Grid would replace the current, outdated system and employ real-time, two-way communication technologies to allow users to connect directly with power suppliers. The development of the grid will create jobs and spur the development of innovative products that can be exported. Once implemented, the Smart Grid is expected to save consumers money and reduce America's dependence on foreign oil by improving efficiency and spurring the use of renewable energy sources.
Before it can be constructed, however, there needs to be agreement on standards for the devices that will connect the grid.
After chairing a meeting of industry leaders at the White House, Locke and Chu announced the first set of standards that are needed for the interoperability and security of the Smart Grid and $10 million in Recovery Act funds provided by the Energy Department to the National Institute of Standards and Technology to support the development of interoperability standards.
Secretary Chu also announced that based on feedback from the public and Smart Grid stakeholders, the Department of Energy is increasing the maximum award available under the Recovery Act for Smart Grid programs. The maximum award available under the Smart Grid Investment Grant Program will be increased from $20 million to $200 million and for the Smart Grid Demonstration Projects from $40 million to $100 million. In making awards, DOE will ensure that funding is provided to a diversity of applications, including small projects as well as end-to-end larger projects.
"President Obama has made a smart electrical grid a key element of his plan to lower energy costs for consumers, achieve energy independence and reduce greenhouse gas emissions," Secretary Locke said. "Today, we took a significant step toward developing the open and transparent interoperability standards necessary to realize the Smart Grid vision."
"The Smart Grid is an urgent national priority that requires all levels of government as well as industry to cooperate," Secretary Chu said. "I'm pleased that industry leaders stepped forward today and are working with us to get consensus. We still have much to do, but the ultimate result will be a much more efficient, flexible power grid and the opportunity to dramatically increase our use of renewable energy."
Today's meeting was designed to encourage industry executives to work to expedite the adoption of standards in advance of a major two-day, public standards workshop tomorrow in metro Washington, DC.
The initial batch of 16 National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)-recognized interoperability standards announced today will help ensure that software and hardware components from different vendors will work together seamlessly, while securing the grid against disruptions.
Spanning areas ranging from smart customer meters to distributed power generation components to cybersecurity, the list of standards is based on the consensus expressed by participants in the first public Smart Grid Interoperability Standards Interim Roadmap workshop, held April 28-29 in Reston, Va. A full list of the announced standards is attached below.
The Energy Department also announced that the $10 million it received to support the development of interoperability standards under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has been provided to NIST to help accelerate their efforts to coordinate these critical standards.
Public comments on the initial standards will be accepted for 30 days after their upcoming publication in the Federal Register. The date of publication will be posted on NIST's Smartgrid webpage.
Comments may be submitted to smartgrid@nist.gov.
The Energy Department is the lead federal agency responsible for Smart Grid development. Creating national standards is a critical part of that process. Coordinating these standards and achieving industry buy-in is the responsibility of the Commerce Department. This meeting is part of an aggressive three-phase plan recently launched by the Commerce Department to expedite standards development.
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May 18, 2009 - Ambient Corporation Reports First Quarter Results - Continued Revenue from Contractual Obligations
Ambient Corporation announced today financial results for its first quarter period ended March 31, 2009. Highlights of the quarter include three-month revenues of $826,593.
First quarter revenues resulted from the continuing success and delivery of smart grid communications technologies to one of the largest electric utilities in the United States.
“While awaiting the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) finalization of the rules for smart grid stimulus funding, utilities and industry players alike have put large projects on hold,” stated John J. Joyce, President and CEO of Ambient Corporation. “Ambient has been using this time to further enhance our smart grid platform and focus on next-generation products, and preparing for the business environment following the DOE’s finalized rules, and availability of matching grants.”
Mr. Joyce continued, “We have continued to ship product from orders received in 2008, allowing for the recognition of revenue during the first quarter. Although the gross margins on these shipments have been under pressure due to many reasons, we anticipate that future shipments will allow for gross margins at near industry norms.”
Operations Highlights – First Quarter
REVENUE: Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2009 were $826,593, compared to $63,642 for the corresponding period in 2008. Revenues for the 2009 period were attributable to the sale of equipment, and our element management system, AmbientNMS, and revenue for the 2008 period were attributable to the sale of equipment.
COST OF GOODS SOLD: Cost of goods sold for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was $731,23,6 compared to $342,870 during the corresponding period in 2008. Cost of goods sold included all direct costs related to the manufacturing of products and consisted primarily of direct material costs. The increase in cost of goods sold during the 2009 period primarily reflects the increase in production to fill orders placed in 2008.
GROSS PROFIT: Gross profits for the 2008 period was $95,357, compared to a loss of $279,228 for the 2008 period.
A more detailed description of Ambient’s business, results of operations and financial statements are contained in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 15, 2009, and Ambient’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 11, 2009.
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May 7, 2009 - Ambient Endorses the GridWise's NOI / FOA Comments to the DOE
Yesterday the GridWise Alliance, on behalf of its endorsing members, formally submitted to the DOE its comments on the Investment Grant Program Notice of Intent (NOI) and the Smart Grid Demonstrations Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). The comments covered topics in the NOI and FOA, including the project funding cap, cybersecurity, the application process and many other items.
A PDF of the cover letter and comments to DOE Secretary Chu and Office of Management and Budget Director, Peter Orszag is available here.
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April 30, 2009 - Ambient Deployment Update
Fostering a long relationship with Duke Energy, Ambient Corporation is continuing the support of deployments and pending programs for Duke Energy’s smart grid projects. Ambient’s X2000 communications node, the first to offer cellular connectivity to Duke, is already successfully deployed in Cincinnati, Ohio to cover approximately 50,000 electrical customers and 42,000 gas customers. The Company’s newest communications node, the X-3000, certified for use on Verizon Wireless’ network through their open development program, is deployed in Charlotte, N.C. to initially cover approximately 6,000 electrical customers. The Ambient X-3000 node provides reliable and secure data communications for any IP-based smart grid application such as:
- Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) - Energy management
- Real-time pricing
- Demand side management (DSM)
- Direct load control
- System monitoring
A robust communications network is the keystone to a modernized electricity distribution grid, which allows for efficient collection, analysis and management of energy data to promote more reliable, affordable and environmentally friendly operations.
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