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. 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

  2. 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 journalArticlepeer-review

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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. 345-352

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  8. 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. 339-348

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  9. 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. 1769-1781

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  10. 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. 1139-1156

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  11. 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

  12. 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. 997-1006

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  13. 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

  14. 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. 324-332

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  15. 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. 173-184

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  16. 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/ReportCommissioned report

  17. 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. 387-397

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. 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. 82-102

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  21. 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

  22. 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. C06015

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  23. 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

  24. 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. 229-239

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  25. 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

  26. 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

  27. Published

    Introduction to Ocean Renewable Energy

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

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

  28. Published

    Tidal power plants: Predictable electricity from the sea

    Neill, S., 1 Sept 2018, 2 p. London : Energy Institute.

    Research output: Other contribution

  29. 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

  30. 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 journalReview articlepeer-review

  31. 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/ReportBook

  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

    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. 447-460

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  34. 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

  35. 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

  36. 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

  37. 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

  38. 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 journalReview articlepeer-review

  39. Published
  40. 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

  41. 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

  42. 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. 654-665

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  43. 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 journalArticlepeer-review

  44. 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. 311-321

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  45. 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. 510-522

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  46. 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. 119-135

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  47. 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

  48. 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. 172-185

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  49. Published

    Research priorities for assessing potential impacts of emerging marine renewable energy technologies: Insights from developments in Wales (UK)

    Roche, RC., Walker-Springett, K., Robins, PE., Jones, J., Veneruso, G., Whitton, TA., Piano, M., Ward, SL., Duce, CE., Waggitt, JJ., 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

  50. 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 conferencePoster