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
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
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
Oceanographic observations in the Savick Brook.
Elliott, A. J. & Neill, S. P., 1 Jan 2004, 2004 ed. Unknown.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
- Published
Ocean-related options for climate change mitigation and adaptation: A machine learning-based evidence map protocol
Veytia, D., Airoldi, L., Paris, P., Cooley, S., Magnan, A., Marti, V., Neill, S., Sumaila, R., Thebaud, O., Voolstra, C., Williamson, P., Bonin, M., Langridge, J., Comte, A., Viard, F., Shin, Y., Bopp, L. & Gattuso, J.-P., 1 Feb 2024, In: Protocol Exchange.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
- 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
Observing estuarine currents and fronts in the Tay Estuary, Scotland, using an airborne SAR with along-track interferometry (ATI)
Ferrier, G., Macklin, J. T., Neill, S. P., Folkard, A. M., Copeland, G. J. & Anderson, J. M., 20 Oct 2005, In: International Journal of Remote Sensing. 26, 20, p. 4399-4404Research 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
Numerical modelling of hydrodynamics and tidal energy extraction in the Alderney Race: a review
Thiebot, J., Coles, D., Bennis, A.-C., Guillou, N., Neill, S., Guillou, S. & Piggott, M., 21 Aug 2020, In: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences. 378, 2178, 20190498.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › 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
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
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
Measuring and Observing the Ocean Renewable Energy Resource
Christie, D. & Neill, S., 2021, Comprehensive Renewable Energy. 2nd ed.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
- Published
Larval dispersal from an energetic tidal channel and implications for blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) shellfisheries
Demmer, J., Neill, S., Andres, O., Malham, S., Jones, T. & Robins, P., 1 Dec 2022, In: Aquaculture International. 30, 6, p. 2969-2995Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- 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
Intercomparison of surface velocimetry techniques for drone-based marine current characterization
Fairley, I., King, N., McIlvenny, J., Lewis, M., Neill, S., Williamson, B., Masters, I. & Reeve, D. E., 1 Apr 2024, In: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 299, 108682.Research 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Evidence of potential synergy between aquaculture and offshore renewable energy
Demmer, J., Lewis, M., Robins, P. & Neill, S., 30 Sept 2022, In: International Marine Energy Journal. 5, 2Research 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
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
Environmental issues for offshore renewable energy
Wolf, J., De Dominicis, M., Lewis, M., Neill, S., O'Hara Murray, R., Scott, B. E., Zampollo, A., Chapman, J. & Declerck, M., 1 Feb 2022, Comprehensive Renewable Energy. 2nd ed. ElsevierResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › 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
Environmental Issues for Offshore Renewable Energy
Wolf, J., Dominicis, M. D., Lewis, M., Neill, S., Murray, R. O., Scott, B., Zampollo, A., Chapman, J. & Declerck, M., 2021, Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences. ElsevierResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › 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
Drone-based large-scale particle image velocimetry applied to tidal stream energy resource assessment
Fairley, I., Williamson, B., McIlvenny, J., King, N., Masters, I., Lewis, M., Neill, S., Glasby, D., Coles, D., Powell, B., Naylor, K., Robinson, M. & Reeve, D. E., 1 Aug 2022, In: Renewable Energy. 196, p. 839-855Research 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Characterizing seabed sediments at contrasting offshore renewable energy sites
Amjadian, P., Neill, S. & Marti, V., 4 Apr 2023, In: Frontiers in Marine Science. 10Research 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