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
- 2018
- Published
Tidal stream resource characterisation in progressive versus standing wave systems
Ward, S., Robins, P., Lewis, M., Iglesias, G., Hashemi, M. R. & Neill, S., 15 Jun 2018, In: Applied Energy. 220, p. 274-285Research 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
- 2017
- 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
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
Comparison of ADCP observations and 3D model simulations of turbulence at a tidal energy site
Togneri, M., Lewis, M., Neill, S. & Masters, I., Dec 2017, In: Renewable Energy. 114, Part A, p. 273-282Research 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
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
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
Comparison of 4- and 5-beam acoustic Doppler current profiler configurations for measurement of turbulent kinetic energy
Togneri, M., Jones, D., Neill, S., Lewis, M., Ward, S., Piano, M. & Masters, I., 5 Sept 2017, In: Energy Procedia. 125, p. 260-267Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Characterizing the Great Lakes hydrokinetic renewable energy resource: Lake Erie wave, surge and seiche characteristics
Farhadzadeh, A., Hashemi, M. R. & Neill, S., 1 Jun 2017, In: Energy. 128, p. 661-675Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- 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
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
- 2016
- 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
- Published
Sensitivity of palaeotidal models of the northwest European shelf seas to glacial isostatic adjustment since the Last Glacial Maximum
Ward, S., Neill, S., Scourse, J., Bradley, S. L. & Uehara, K., 1 Nov 2016, In: Quaternary Science Reviews. 151, p. 198-211Research 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
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
Inter-annual variability of headland sandbanks affecting nearshore wave climates and flood risk.
Rulent, J., Lewis, M., Vafeidis, A., Scott, T., Conley, D. & Neill, S., Sept 2016.Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster
- 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
- 2015
- 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
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
- 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
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
Classifying seabed sediment type using simulated tidal-induced bed shear stress
Ward, S. L., Neill, S. P., Van Landeghem, K. J. & Scourse, J. D., 30 May 2015, In: Marine Geology. 367, p. 94-104Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Some numerical aspects of modelling flow around hydraulic structures using incompressible SPH
Ghadampour, Z., Hashemi, M. R., Talebbeydokhti, N., Neill, S. P. & Nikseresht, A. H., 8 May 2015, In: Computers and Mathematics with Applications. 69, 12, p. 1470-1483Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- 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
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
- 2014
- 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
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
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
Metagenetic analysis of patterns of distribution and diversity of marine meiobenthic eukaryotes
Fonseca, V. G., Carvalho, G. R., Nichols, B., Quince, C., Johnson, H. F., Neill, S. P., Lambshead, J. D., Thomas, W. K., Power, D. M. & Creer, S., 25 Aug 2014, In: Global Ecology and Biogeography. 23, 11, p. 1293–1302Research 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
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
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
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 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 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
- 2013
- 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
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
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
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
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
- 2012
- 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
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
- 2010
- Published
Second-generation environmental sequencing unmasks marine metazoan biodiversity.
Fonseca, V. G., Carvalho, G. R., Sung, W., Johnson, H. F., Power, D. M., Neill, S. P., Packer, M., Blaxter, M. L., Lambshead, J. D., Thomas, W. K. & Creer, S., 19 Oct 2010, In: Nature Communications. 1, 7, p. 98Research 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
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
- 2009
- 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
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
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
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