ZX Lidars has announced the global release of its ZX 300e light detection and ranging (Lidar) unit which has obtained the world’s first 21 m to 200 m IEC classification with validated standard uncertainty of 0% at all heights. 

The announcement confirms that the model has exceeded the full conditions to satisfy the IEC 61400-50-2 standard, demonstrating no environmental variables to be significant and validating that the technology is suitable for use in a  variety of wind campaigns and applications including resource assessment, site calibration and power curve measurements.

New features of the ZX 300e include enhanced wind data with a new generation of continuous wave wind Lidar algorithms for improved accuracy, wind direction sensing, data availability and cup-equivalent turbulence intensity. A reduced power consumption of 44 W (even at temperatures of minus 25 °C) enables off-grid power supply fuel to be better preserved and autonomy extended. A new Web-based user interface supports local and remote, multi-user access and system status checks.

ZX Lidars notes that a fleet of ZX 300e units have been verified using ‘Midar’ technology – a mast + Lidar approach where a vertical-profiling Lidar is mounted to a 91 m mast extending traceable reference measurements far above the mast itself and up to 300 m.

The company confirmed the following results: correlation slopes consistently within ±1%, R² greater than 0.985, and repeatability across the fleet within the narrowest ranges yet reported for a ground-based Lidar. 99.8% - 94.2% availability was achieved consistently from 20 m to 300 m. At 250 m, data availability exceeded 96%, and at 300 m it remained above 94%, with correlation slopes within ±1.1% and R² values again remaining greater than 0.985. It added that this represents the first independent demonstration of a ground-based Lidar delivering consistent, low-uncertainty data at heights up to 300 m.

The ZX 300e’s IEC classification as well as an introduction and performance credentials document is available from ZX Lidars.