Biography
Danny completed his MEng in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Manchester in 2011. After graduating he worked for 18 months in the solar industry, before completing a PhD in hydrodynamic modelling from the University of Southampton in 2016. Subsequently he won an EPSRC Doctoral Prize to undertake tidal turbine array optimisation research at Imperial College London as a Research Associate. Between 2017-2020 Danny moved into industry, working in Analyst roles for the tidal stream energy developer SIMEC Atlantis Energy, and the wind owner/operator Ventient Energy (now Nadara). He returned to academia in 2021 as Senior Research Fellow at the University of Plymouth, where he worked on the Tidal Stream Industry Energiser project (TIGER). He started as a Senior Research Associate at the University of Oxford in January 2025.
Research Interests
Danny’s primary research interest is in energy system modelling and optimisation. He has a particular interest in understanding the potential role(s) of offshore renewable energy in the transition to net-zero energy systems. He is undertaking this research in collaboration with key stakeholders including the National Energy System Operator and UK Government Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Danny’s secondary research interest is in tidal stream energy resource assessment and array optimisation. His work investigates the energy that can be extracted from tidal sites around the world, and the multi-objective optimisation of turbine arrays to consider conflicting objectives, such as energy extraction, cost of energy and environmental impact.
Research Projects
Marine energy OptimiSAtion for system securIty enhanCement (MOSAIC)
MOSAIC investigates the role(s) of tidal stream, tidal range and wave energy in overcoming energy security challenges as the UK transitions to a net-zero energy system.
Research Groups
Related Academics
Latest Publications
Assessment of tidal stream power’s ability to enhance energy system resilience
Coles D & Adcock T (2026), International Marine Energy Journal, 9(1), 47-54
BibTeX
@article{assessmentoftid-2026/7,
title={Assessment of tidal stream power’s ability to enhance energy system resilience},
author={Coles D & Adcock T},
journal={International Marine Energy Journal},
volume={9},
pages={47-54},
publisher={European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference},
year = "2026"
}
Decision-making tool for onshore vs. offshore hydrogen production from offshore wind
Guichard J, Rawlinson-Smith R, Coles D & Greaves D (2026), International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 218, 153966
BibTeX
@article{decisionmakingt-2026/3,
title={Decision-making tool for onshore vs. offshore hydrogen production from offshore wind},
author={Guichard J, Rawlinson-Smith R, Coles D & Greaves D},
journal={International Journal of Hydrogen Energy},
volume={218},
number={153966},
pages={153966},
publisher={Elsevier},
year = "2026"
}
Energy storage from a wind, tidal, and wave farm via hydrogen
Guichard J, Rawlinson-Smith R, Coles D & Greaves D (2026), Frontiers in Energy Research, 14, 1732813
BibTeX
@article{energystoragefr-2026/3,
title={Energy storage from a wind, tidal, and wave farm via hydrogen},
author={Guichard J, Rawlinson-Smith R, Coles D & Greaves D},
journal={Frontiers in Energy Research},
volume={14},
number={1732813},
pages={1732813},
publisher={Frontiers Media},
year = "2026"
}
A review of global tidal stream energy resources
Coles D, Adcock T, Cornett A, Haas K, Jo CH et al. (2025), Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 481(2328)
BibTeX
@article{areviewofglobal-2025/12,
title={A review of global tidal stream energy resources},
author={Coles D, Adcock T, Cornett A, Haas K, Jo CH et al.},
journal={Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences},
volume={481},
number={20240841 },
publisher={Royal Society},
year = "2025"
}
Assessment of tidal stream power’s ability to enhance energy system resilience
Coles D & Adcock T (2025), Proceedings of the 16th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference, Funchal, 7-11 September 2025., 16
BibTeX
@inproceedings{assessmentoftid-2025/9,
title={Assessment of tidal stream power’s ability to enhance energy system resilience},
author={Coles D & Adcock T},
booktitle={16th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference (EWTEC 2025)},
year = "2025"
}
Comparison of floating offshore wind and tidal range for green hydrogen production and storage for industrial decarbonization
Pegler D, Rawlinson-Smith R, Michele S, Coles D & Greaves D (2025), International Marine Energy Journal, 8(3), 343-358
BibTeX
@article{comparisonofflo-2025/9,
title={Comparison of floating offshore wind and tidal range for green hydrogen production and storage for industrial decarbonization},
author={Pegler D, Rawlinson-Smith R, Michele S, Coles D & Greaves D},
journal={International Marine Energy Journal},
volume={8},
pages={343-358},
publisher={European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference},
year = "2025"
}
Quantifying the System Benefits of Ocean Energy in the Context of Variability: A UK Example
Noble DR, Pennock S, Coles D, Delahaye T & Jeffrey H (2025), Energies, 18(14)
BibTeX
@article{quantifyingthes-2025/7,
title={Quantifying the System Benefits of Ocean Energy in the Context of Variability: A UK Example},
author={Noble DR, Pennock S, Coles D, Delahaye T & Jeffrey H},
journal={Energies},
volume={18},
number={3717},
publisher={MDPI},
year = "2025"
}
On tidal array layout sensitivity to regional hydrodynamics representation
Jordan C, Coles D, Johnson F & Angeloudis A (2025), International Marine Energy Journal, 8(2), 227-236
BibTeX
@article{ontidalarraylay-2025/6,
title={On tidal array layout sensitivity to regional hydrodynamics representation},
author={Jordan C, Coles D, Johnson F & Angeloudis A},
journal={International Marine Energy Journal},
volume={8},
pages={227-236},
publisher={European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference},
year = "2025"
}
Sheared turbulent flows and wake dynamics of an idled floating tidal turbine
Lieber L, Fraser S, Coles D & Nimmo-Smith WAM (2024), Nature Communications, 15(1), 8244
BibTeX
@article{shearedturbulen-2024/9,
title={Sheared turbulent flows and wake dynamics of an idled floating tidal turbine},
author={Lieber L, Fraser S, Coles D & Nimmo-Smith WAM},
journal={Nature Communications},
volume={15},
number={8244},
pages={8244},
publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
year = "2024"
}
On tidal array layout sensitivity to regional and device model representation
Jordan C, Angeloudis A, Coles D & Johnson F (2023), Proceedings of the 15th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference, 15
BibTeX
@inproceedings{ontidalarraylay-2023/9,
title={On tidal array layout sensitivity to regional and device model representation},
author={Jordan C, Angeloudis A, Coles D & Johnson F},
booktitle={ The 15th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference},
year = "2023"
}
Public and Policy Engagement
Danny's research was discussed in a House of Commons debate on funding for tidal stream energy.
His work has also featured in articles published by the BBC, The Guardian, New Scientist and The Conversation, and a TEDx talk on energy systems.
