Professor Simon Neill

Professor in Physical Oceanography

Contact info

Room: Room 212, Marine Centre Wales     Phone: 01248 383938

Email: s.p.neill@bangor.ac.uk

Web: Google ScholarResearchGateAmazon Author PageTwitter; 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:

Research Areas

  1. Article › Research › Peer-reviewed
  2. 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. 505-524

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  3. 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. 1061-1074

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  4. E-pub ahead of print

    Predicting coastal wave conditions: A simple machine learning approach

    Roome, E., Christie, D. & Neill, S., 1 Dec 2024, In: Applied Ocean Research. 153, 13 p., 104282.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  5. 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. 495-508

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  6. 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 journalArticlepeer-review

  7. 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. 403-415

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  8. 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. 98

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  9. 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 journalArticlepeer-review

  10. 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. 198-211

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  11. 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. 57-64

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  12. 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. 1470-1483

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  13. 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 journalArticlepeer-review

  14. Published

    Special issue: Wave and tidal resource characterization

    Neill, S., Yang, Z. & Hashemi, M. R., 1 Dec 2017, In: Renewable Energy. 114, p. 1-2

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  15. 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 journalArticlepeer-review

  16. Published

    The challenges of constraining shelf sea tidal models using seabed sediment grain size as a proxy for tidal currents

    Ward, S., Scourse, J., Yokoyama, Y. & Neill, S., Dec 2020, In: Continental Shelf Research. 205, 104165.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  17. Published

    The formation of headland/island sandbanks.

    Neill, S. & Scourse, J. D., 15 Oct 2009, In: Continental Shelf Research. 29, 18, p. 2167-2177

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  18. 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. 2803-2812

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  19. 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 journalArticlepeer-review

  20. 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. 402-415

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  21. 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-e10

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  22. 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. 419-428

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  23. 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. 337-350

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  24. 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. 300-310

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  25. Published

    The role of wind in controlling the connectivity of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis L.) populations

    Demmer, J., Robins, P., Malham, S., Lewis, M., Owen, A., Jones, T. & Neill, S., 21 Jan 2022, In: Movement Ecology. 10, 1, 3.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  26. Published

    The tidal flux in the Firth of Forth

    Elliott, A. J. & Neill, S. P., 1 Mar 2007, In: Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Maritime Engineering. 160, 1, p. 25-32

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  27. 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. 3-17

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  28. 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 journalArticlepeer-review

  29. Published

    Tidal Range Resource of Australia

    Neill, S., Hemer, M., Robins, P., Griffiths, A. & Furnish, A., 1 Jun 2021, In: Renewable Energy. 170, p. 683-692

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  30. 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. 811-819

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  31. Published

    Tidal energy leasing and tidal phasing

    Neill, S. P., Hashemi, M. R. & Lewis, M. J., Jan 2016, In: Renewable Energy. 85, p. 580-587

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  32. 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. 763-778

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  33. 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. 469-483

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  34. Published

    Tidal range resource of the Patagonian shelf

    Marti, V., Neill, S. & Angeloudis, A., 1 Jun 2023, In: Renewable Energy. 209, p. 85-96

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  35. 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. 1363-1375

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  36. 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. 274-285

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  37. 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. 481-491

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  38. 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. 1345-1356

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  39. Published

    Wave power variability over the northwest European shelf seas

    Neill, S. P. & Hashemi, R., 1 Jun 2013, In: Applied Energy. 106, p. 31-46

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  40. 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 journalArticlepeer-review

  41. 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. 367-384

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  42. Special issue › Research › Peer-reviewed
  43. Published

    Tidal energy extraction in three-dimensional ocean models

    Goward Brown, A., Neill, S. & Lewis, M., Dec 2017, In: Renewable Energy. 114, A, p. 244/257

    Research output: Contribution to journalSpecial issuepeer-review

  44. Chapter › Research › Not peer-reviewed
  45. Published

    The future of ocean renewable energy

    Neill, S., 1 Dec 2023, Living With Climate Change. Letcher, T. (ed.). Elsevier, p. 449-464

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

  46. Chapter › Research › Peer-reviewed
  47. 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. Elsevier

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

  48. 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. Elsevier

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

  49. Published

    Introduction to Ocean Renewable Energy

    Neill, S., 2021, Comprehensive Renewable Energy. 2nd ed. Elsevier

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

  50. 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 proceedingChapterpeer-review

  51. 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 proceedingChapterpeer-review

  52. Published

    Salinity Gradient Power

    Withers, T. & Neill, S., 20 Oct 2021, Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences. 2nd ed. Elsevier Press

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

  53. 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. 279-304

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

  54. Paper › Research › Not peer-reviewed
  55. Published

    A progress report on the control of the free surface in a 3D Navier Stokes solver for coastal applications.

    Gejadze, I., Copeland, G., Neill, S. P., Fang, F. & Pain, C., 1 Jan 2004, p. 681-694.

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper