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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Ocean Renewable Energy Test Centers
Marti, V., Culina, J. & Neill, S., 9 Sept 2021, Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences. 2nd ed.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
- Published
Modelling of SAR signatures of bathymetric features in the Bristol Channel using a coupled wave-current model
Macklin, T., Wolf, J., Wakelin, S., Elliott, A. J. & Neill, S. P., 1 Jan 2005, p. 611-618.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
The benefits of combining coupled wave-current models with SAR observations for the interpretation of ocean-surface currents.
Macklin, T., Wolf, J., Wakelin, S., Gommenginger, C., Ferrier, G., Elliott, A. J. & Neill, S. P., 23 Jan 2006.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
The benefits of combining coupled wave-current models with SAR observations for the interpretation of ocean-surface currents.
Macklin, T., Wolf, J., Wakelin, S., Gommenginger, C., Ferrier, G., Elliott, A. J. & Neill, S. P., 1 Jan 2006.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Resource assessment for future generations of tidal-stream energy arrays
Lewis, M., Neill, S. P., Robins, P. E. & Hashemi, M. R., 1 Apr 2015, In: Energy. 83, p. 403-415Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Power variability of tidal-stream energy and implications for electricity supply
Lewis, M., McNaughton, J., Márquez-Dominguez, C., Todeschini, G., Togneri, M., Masters, I., Allmark, M., Stallard, T., Neill, S., Goward Brown, A. & Robins, P., 15 Sept 2019, In: Energy. 183, p. 1061-1074Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Influence of storm surge on tidal range energy
Lewis, M., Angeloudis, A., Robins, P., Evans, P. S. & Neill, S., Mar 2017, In: Energy. 122, p. 25-36Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Characteristics of the velocity profile at tidal-stream energy sites
Lewis, M., Neill, S., Robins, P., Hashemi, M. R. & Ward, S., Dec 2017, In: Renewable Energy. 114, Part A, p. 258-272Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Inter-annual variability of two contrasting offshore sand banks in a region of extreme tidal range
Lewis, M. J., Neill, S. P. & Elliott, A. J., 10 Dec 2014, In: Journal of Coastal Research. 31, 2, p. 265-275Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
A standardised tidal-stream power curve, optimised for the global resource
Lewis, M., O'Hara Murray, R., Fredriksson, S., Maskell, J., de Fockert, A., Neill, S. & Robins, P., 1 Jun 2021, In: Renewable Energy. 170, p. 1308-1323Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Wave-tide interaction modulates nearshore wave height
Lewis, M. J., Palmer, T., Hashemi, R., Robins, P., Saulter, A., Brown, J., Lewis, H. & Neill, S., Mar 2019, In: Ocean Dynamics. 69, 3, p. 367-384Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Realistic wave conditions and their influence on quantifying the tidal stream energy resource
Lewis, M. J., Neill, S. P. & Hashemi, M. R., 8 Oct 2014, In: Applied Energy. 136, p. 495-508Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Identification of genetically and oceanographically distinct blooms of jellyfish
Lee, P. L., Dawson, M. N., Neill, S. P., Robins, P. E., Houghton, J. D., Doyle, T. K. & Hays, G. C., 1 Mar 2013, In: Journal of the Royal Society Interface. 10, 80, p. 20120920Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Environmental metabarcoding reveals heterogeneous drivers of microbial eukaryote diversity in contrasting estuarine ecosystems
Lallias, D. S., Lallias, D., Hiddink, J. G., Fonseca, V. G., Gaspar, J. M., Sung, W., Neill, S. P., Barnes, N., Ferrero, T., Hall, N., Lambshead, P. J., Packer, M., Thomas, W. K. & Creer, S., 25 Nov 2014, In: The ISME Journal. 9, p. 1208-1221Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
The impacts of tidal energy development and sea-level rise in the Gulf of Maine
Kresning, B., Hashemi, M. R., Neill, S. P., Green, M. & Xue, H., 15 Nov 2019, In: Energy. 187, 115942.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
A large-scale review of wave and tidal energy research over the last 20 years
Khojasteh, D., Shamsipour, A., Huang, L., Tavakoli, S., Haghani, M., Flocard, F., Farzadkhoo, M., Iglesias, G., Hemer, M., Lewis, M., Neill, S., Bernitsas, M. & Glamore, W., 1 Aug 2023, In: Ocean Engineering. 282, 18 p., 114995.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Field Investigations of Scour Around Scaled Piles in a Region of Wave Breaking : Hydrodynamic Field Investigations on Scour around Piles
Kannapiran, T. & Neill, S., Apr 2023.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
- Published
Navigating the tides of change: The crucial role of wave and tidal marine renewable energy resource characterization and assessment research
Jones, C., Yang, Z. & Neill, S., 7 Feb 2024, In: Renewable Energy. 223, 120020.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Habitat structure shapes temperate reef assemblages across regional environmental gradients
Jackson-Bue, T., Evans, A. J., Lawrence, P., Brooks, P., Ward, S., Jenkins, S., Moore, P. J., Crowe, T., Neill, S. & Davies, A., 1 Jan 2024, In: Science of the Total Environment. 167494.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Environmental drivers of small scale spatial variation in the reproductive schedule of a commercially important bivalve mollusc
Hold, N., Murray, L. G., Hinz, H., Neill, S. P., Lass, S., Lo, M. & Kaiser, M. J., 1 Dec 2013, In: Marine Environmental Research. 92, p. 144-153Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Context dependency of relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is different for multiple ecosystem functions.
Hiddink, J. G., Davies, T. W., Perkins, M., Machairopoulou, M. & Neill, S. P., 1 Dec 2009, In: Oikos. 118, 12, p. 1892-1900Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Using an artificial neural network to model seasonal changes in beach profiles
Hashemi, M. R., Ghadampur, Z. & Neill, S. P., 1 Oct 2010, In: Ocean Engineering. 37, 14-15, p. 1345-1356Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Tidal and surge modelling using differential quadrature: a case study in the Bristol Channel.
Hashemi, M. R., Abedini, M. J., Neill, S. P. & Malekzadeh, P., 1 Oct 2008, In: Coastal Engineering. 55, 10, p. 811-819Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
A coupled tide-wave model for the NW European shelf seas
Hashemi, R. M., Neill, S. P. & Davies, A. G., 14 Aug 2014, In: Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
A simplified method to estimate tidal current effects on the ocean wave power resource
Hashemi, M. R., Grilli, S. T. & Neill, S., Oct 2016, In: Renewable Energy. 96, Part A, p. 257-269Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Effect of waves on the tidal energy resource at a planned tidal stream array
Hashemi, M. R., Neill, S. P., Robins, P. E., Davies, A. G. & Lewis, M. J., Mar 2015, In: Renewable Energy. 75, p. 626-639Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
The role of tides in shelf-scale simulations of the wave energy resource
Hashemi, M. R. & Neill, S. P., 18 Apr 2014, In: Renewable Energy. 69, p. 300-310Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
The influence of waves on the tidal kinetic energy resource at a tidal stream energy site
Guillou, N., Chapalain, G. & Neill, S., 15 Oct 2016, In: Applied Energy. 180, October, p. 402-415Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Characterising the tidal stream power resource around France using a high-resolution harmonic database
Guillou, N., Neill, S. & Robins, P., Aug 2018, In: Renewable Energy. 123, p. 706-718Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Spatio-temporal variability of tidal-stream energy in north-western Europe
Guillou, N., Neill, S. & Thiebot, J., 21 Aug 2020, In: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences. 378, 2178, 20190493.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Tidal energy extraction in three-dimensional ocean models
Goward Brown, A., Neill, S. & Lewis, M., Dec 2017, In: Renewable Energy. 114, A, p. 244/257Research output: Contribution to journal › Special issue › peer-review
- Published
The influence of wind gustiness on estimating the wave power resource
Goward Brown, A., Neill, S. & Lewis, M., 10 Nov 2013, In: International Journal of Marine Energy. 3-4, p. e1-e10Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
A new Holocene relative sea-level curve for western Brittany (France): Insights on isostatic dynamics along the Atlantic coasts of north-western Europe
Goslin, J., Van Vliet Lanoe, B., Spada, G., Bradley, S., Tarasov, L., Neill, S. P. & Suanez, S., 5 Nov 2015, In: Quaternary Science Reviews. 129, p. 341-365Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review