Professor Simon Neill
Professor in Physical Oceanography

Affiliations
Contact info
Room: Room 212, Marine Centre Wales Phone: 01248 383938
Email: s.p.neill@bangor.ac.uk
Web: Google Scholar; ResearchGate; Amazon Author Page; Twitter; Google Knowledge Panel
I am professor in physical oceanography, specializing in ocean renewable energy: characterizing the wave and tidal energy resource, understanding wave-tide interaction, optimizing grid integration of arrays of marine renewable energy devices, and quantifying the environmental impacts of extracting energy from the oceans. I am founder and course director of an MSc in Marine Renewable Energy, and committee member of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), working on revising IEC Technical Specification 62600-201: Tidal Energy Resource Assessment and Characterization. I am a member of the editorial board of the Elsevier journal Renewable Energy, have written a textbook on marine energy "Fundamentals of Ocean Renewable Energy: Generating Electricity from the Sea", and am lead sediment scientist at FORCE (Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy). I also have other shelf sea research interests, including palaeoceanography, sediment dynamics, and simulating the dispersal of marine organisms and microplastics.
I currently lead a wide range of research projects at Bangor University, including:
- NERC – SE Asia Plastics. South East Asia MArine Plastics (SEAmap): Reduction, Control and Mitigation of Marine Plastic Pollution in the Philippines. Neill SP (PI), Hiddink JG, Robins PE, Lewis MJ, Skov MW, Dunn CP (School of Natural Sciences), Taboada E (University of San Carlos, Philippines); £708,034. 2020-2023.
- European Regional Development Fund. Smart Efficient Energy Centre (SEEC) (£7M) Simon Neill (PI), Iestyn Pierce & Graham Ormondroyd. 2019-2023.
Research Areas
- Published
Tidal range resource of the Patagonian shelf
Marti, V., Neill, S. & Angeloudis, A., 1 Jun 2023, In: Renewable Energy. 209, p. 85-96Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Comparison of dense optical flow and PIV techniques for mapping surface current flow in tidal stream energy sites
McIlvenny, J., Williamson, B., Fairley, I., Lewis, M., Neill, S., Masters, I. & Reeve, D. E., Sept 2023, In: International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering. 14, 3, p. 273-285 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Sensitivity assessment of bathymetry and choice of tidal constituents on tidal stream energy resource characterisation in the Gulf of California, Mexico
Mejia-Olivares, C., Haigh, I. D., Lewis, M. & Neill, S., 1 Sept 2020, In: Applied Ocean Research.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Tidal-stream energy resource characterisation for the Gulf of California, México
Mejia-Olivares, C., Haigh, I. D., Wells, N., Coles, D., Lewis, M. & Neill, S., 1 Aug 2018, In: Energy. 156, p. 481-491Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Tidal range energy resource assessment of the Gulf of California, Mexico
Mejia-Olivares, C., Haigh, I. D., Angeloudis, A., Lewis, M. & Neill, S., Aug 2020, In: Renewable Energy. 155, p. 469-483Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Three-dimensional modelling of turbine wake interactions at a tidal stream energy site
Michelet, N., Guillou, N., Chapalain, G., Thiebot, J., Guillou, S., Goward Brown, A. & Neill, S., 1 Feb 2020, In: Applied Ocean Research. 95, 102009.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Influence of the phase relationship between tidal currents and elevations on tidal energy conversion
Milford, C., Marti, V. & Neill, S., 2 Apr 2025, In: Renewable Energy. 247, 122774.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
A numerical study of lateral grain size sorting by an estuarine front.
Neill, S. P., 10 Feb 2009, In: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 81, 3, p. 345-352Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Inter-annual and inter-seasonal variability of the Orkney wave power resource
Neill, S. P., Lewis, M. J., Hashemi, M. R., Slater, E., Lawrence, J. & Spall, S. A., 1 Aug 2014, In: Applied Energy. 132, p. 339-348Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
A model of inter-annual variability in beach levels.
Neill, S. P., Elliott, A. & Hashemi, R. M., 15 Aug 2008, In: Continental Shelf Research. 28, 14, p. 1769-1781Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Evolution of bed shear stress distribution over the northwest European shelf seas during the last 12,000 years.
Neill, S. P. & Scourse, J. D., 1 Jan 2010, In: Ocean Dynamics. 60, 5, p. 1139-1156Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
The impact of tidal stream turbines on large-scale sediment dynamics.
Neill, S. P., Litt, E. J., Couch, S. J. & Davies, A. G., 1 Dec 2009, In: Renewable Energy. 34, 12, p. 2803-2812Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Optimal phasing of the European tidal stream resource using the greedy algorithm with penalty function
Neill, S. P., Lewis, M. J. & Hashemi, M. R., 22 Jul 2014, In: Energy. 73, p. 997-1006Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
The role of tidal asymmetry in characterizing the tidal energy resource of Orkney
Neill, S. P., Hashemi, M. R. & Lewis, M. J., 4 Mar 2014, In: Renewable Energy. 68, p. 337-350Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Observations and simulations of an unsteady island wake in the Firth of Forth, Scotland.
Neill, S. P. & Elliott, A. J., 1 Jul 2004, In: Ocean Dynamics. 54, 3-4, p. 324-332Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Observations and numerical modelling of a non-buoyant front in the Tay Estuary, Scotland.
Neill, S. P., Copeland, G. J., Ferrier, G. & Folkard, A. M., 1 Jan 2004, In: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 59, 1, p. 173-184Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Estimates of the extreme meteorological and oceanographic conditions near Amlwch.
Neill, S. P. & Elliott, A. J., 1 Jan 2005, 2005 ed. Unknown.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
- Published
Impact of tidal energy converter (TEC) arrays on the dynamics of headland sand banks
Neill, S. P., Jordan, J. R. & Couch, S. J., 1 Jan 2012, In: Renewable Energy. 37, 1, p. 387-397Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Wave power variability over the northwest European shelf seas
Neill, S. P. & Hashemi, R., 1 Jun 2013, In: Applied Energy. 106, p. 31-46Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
The role of Coriolis in sandbank formation due to a headland/island system.
Neill, S. P., 10 Sept 2008, In: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 79, 3, p. 419-428Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
An enhanced depth-averaged tidal model for morphological studies in the presence of rotary currents.
Neill, S. P., Hashemi, M. R. & Elliott, A. J., 1 Jan 2007, In: Continental Shelf Research. 27, 1, p. 82-102Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Simulating storm waves in the Irish Sea
Neill, S. P. & Elliott, A. J., 1 Jun 2007, In: Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Maritime Engineering. 160, 2, p. 57-64Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Changes in wave climate over the northwest European shelf seas during the last 12,000 years.
Neill, S. P., Scourse, J. D., Bigg, G. R. & Uehara, K., 17 Jun 2009, In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Oceans. 114, p. C06015Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Tidal energy leasing and tidal phasing
Neill, S. P., Hashemi, M. R. & Lewis, M. J., Jan 2016, In: Renewable Energy. 85, p. 580-587Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
In situ measurements of spring-neap variations to unsteady island wake development in the Firth of Forth, Scotland.
Neill, S. P. & Elliott, A. J., 1 Jun 2004, In: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 60, 2, p. 229-239Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Special issue: Wave and tidal resource characterization
Neill, S., Yang, Z. & Hashemi, M. R., 1 Dec 2017, In: Renewable Energy. 114, p. 1-2Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
The future of ocean renewable energy
Neill, S., 1 Dec 2023, Living With Climate Change. Letcher, T. (ed.). Elsevier, p. 449-464Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
- Published
Introduction to Ocean Renewable Energy
Neill, S., 2021, Comprehensive Renewable Energy. 2nd ed. ElsevierResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
- Published
Tidal power plants: Predictable electricity from the sea
Neill, S., 1 Sept 2018, 2 p. London : Energy Institute.Research output: Other contribution
- Published
The Impact of Marine Renewable Energy Extraction on Sediment Dynamics
Neill, S., Robins, P. & Fairley, I., 10 Apr 2017, Marine Renewable Energy: Resource characterization and physical effects. Yang, Z. & Copping, A. (eds.). Springer, p. 279-304Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
- Published
A review of tidal energy - Resource, feedbacks, and environmental interactions
Neill, S., Haas, K., Thiebot, J. & Yang, Z., Nov 2021, In: Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy. 13, 6, 17 p., 062702.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
- Published
Fundamentals of Ocean Renewable Energy: Generating Electricity from the Sea
Neill, S. & Hashemi, M. R., 12 Jun 2018, London: Academic Press. 336 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book
- Published
Tidal range energy resource and optimization – past perspectives and future challenges
Neill, S., Angeloudis, A., Robins, P., Walkington, I., Ward, S., Masters, I., Lewis, M., Piano, M., Avdis, A., Piggott, M., Aggidis, G., Evans, P., Adcock, T., Zidonis, A., Ahmadian, R. & Falconer, R., Nov 2018, In: Renewable Energy. 127, November, p. 763-778Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Characterizing the Marine Energy Test Area (META) in Wales, UK
Neill, S., Fairley, I., Rowlands, S., Young, S., Hill, T., Unsworth, C., King, N., Roberts, M., Austin, M., Hughes, P., Masters, I., Owen, A., Powell, B., Reeve, D. E. & Lewis, M., 1 Mar 2023, In: Renewable Energy. 205, p. 447-460Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Tidal Range Resource of Australia
Neill, S., Hemer, M., Robins, P., Griffiths, A. & Furnish, A., 1 Jun 2021, In: Renewable Energy. 170, p. 683-692Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
The formation of headland/island sandbanks.
Neill, S. & Scourse, J. D., 15 Oct 2009, In: Continental Shelf Research. 29, 18, p. 2167-2177Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
The wave and tidal resource of Scotland
Neill, S., Vogler, A., Goward-Brown, A. J., Baston, S., Lewis, M., Gillibrand, P. A., Waldman, S. & Woolf, D. K., Dec 2017, In: Renewable Energy. 114, Part A, p. 3-17Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Wave resource characterization and co-location with offshore wind in the Irish Sea
Neill, S., 24 Feb 2024, In: Renewable Energy. 222, 13 p., 119902.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Priorities to inform research on marine plastic pollution in Southeast Asia
Omeyer, L. C. M., Duncan, E. M., Aiemsomboon, K., Beaumont, N., Bureekul, S., Cao, B., Carrasco, L. R., Chavanich, S., Clark, J., Cordova, M. R., Couceiro, F., Cragg, S. M., Dickson, N., Frailler, P., Ferraro, G., Fletcher, S., Fong, J., Ford, A., Guttierrez, T., Hamid, F. S., Hiddink, J. G., Hoa, P. T., Holland, S. L., Jones, L., Jones, N., Koldewey, H., Lauro, F. M., Lee, C., Lewis, M., Marks, D., Matallana-Surget, S., Mayorga-Adame, C. G., McGeehan, J., Fesser, L., Michie, L., Miller, M. A., Mohamad, Z. F., Nor, N. H. M., Muller, M., Neill, S., Nelms, S. E., Onda, D. F., Ong, J. J. L., Pariatamby, A., Phang, S. C., Quiliam, R., Robins, P., Salta, M., Sartimbul, A., Shakuto, S., Skov, M., Taboada, E. B., Todd, P. A., Toh, T. C., Valiyaveettil, S., Viyakran, V., Wonnapinij, P., Wood, L. E., Yong, C. L. X. & Godley, B. J., 1 Oct 2022, In: Science of the Total Environment. 841, 156704.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Characterizing the tidal energy resource of the West Anglesey Demonstration Zone (UK), using TELEMAC-2D and field observations
Piano, M., Ward, S. L., Robins, P. E., Neill, S. P., Lewis, M. J., Davies, A. G., Powell, B. I., Owen, A. W. & Hashemi, R. M., 15 Oct 2015.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Tidal stream resource assessment uncertainty due to flow asymmetry and turbine yaw misalignment
Piano, M., Neill, S., Lewis, M., Robins, P., Hashemi, R., Davies, A., Ward, S. & Roberts, M., Dec 2017, In: Renewable Energy. p. 1363-1375Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
The Influence of Intra-Array Wake Dynamics on Depth-Averaged Kinetic Tidal Turbine Energy Extraction Simulations
Piano, M., Robins, P., Davies, A. & Neill, S., 22 Oct 2018, In: Energies. 11, 10, 2852.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Global riverine theoretical hydrokinetic resource assessment
Ridgill, M., Neill, S., Lewis, M., Robins, P. & Patil, S., 1 Aug 2021, In: Renewable Energy. 174, p. 654-665Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Hydrokinetic energy conversion: A global riverine perspective
Ridgill, M., Lewis, M., Robins, P., Patil, S. & Neill, S., Jul 2022, In: Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy. 14, 4, 044501.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Impact of tidal-stream arrays in relation to the natural variability of sedimentary processes
Robins, P. E., Neill, S. P. & Lewis, M. J., 8 Aug 2014, In: Renewable Energy. 72, p. 311-321Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Characterising the spatial and temporal variability of the tidal-stream energy resource over the northwest European shelf seas
Robins, P. E., Neill, S. P., Lewis, M. J. & Ward, S. L., 1 Jun 2015, In: Applied Energy. 147, p. 510-522Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Impact of climate change on UK estuaries: A review of past trends and potential projections
Robins, P. E., Skov, M. W., Lewis, M. J., Gimenez, L., Davies, A. G., Malham, S. K., Neill, S. P., McDonald, J. E., Whitton, T. A., Jackson, S. E. & Jago, C. F., 17 Dec 2015, In: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 169, p. 119-135Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Physical and biological controls on larval dispersal and connectivity in a highly energetic shelf sea
Robins, P. E., Neill, S. P., Gimenez, L., Jenkins, S. R. & Malham, S. K., 1 Mar 2013, In: Limnology and Oceanography. 58, 2, p. 505-524Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
A numerical study of marine larval dispersal in the presence of an axial convergent front
Robins, P., Neill, S. & Gimenez Noya, J., 20 Mar 2012, In: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 100, p. 172-185Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Research priorities for assessing potential impacts of emerging marine renewable energy technologies: Insights from developments in Wales (UK)
Roche, R., Walker-Springett, K., Robins, P., Jones, J., Veneruso, G., Whitton, T., Piano, M., Ward, S., Duce, C., Waggitt, J., Walker-Springett, G., Neill, S., Lewis, M. & King, J., 1 Dec 2016, In: Renewable Energy. 99, December, p. 1327-1341 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review