Contact Dr Luofeng huang
Background
Dr Luofeng Huang is a Reader at Cranfield University, specialising in ocean engineering. He obtained his PhD from University College London (UCL), focusing on ships and marine structures. His research has since expanded to ocean-based renewable energy technologies, including floating solar, offshore wind, and wave and tidal energy. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications.
Dr Huang serves as Deputy Editor of the Elsevier journal Ocean Engineering. He is a Chartered Engineer (CEng), Chartered Marine Engineer (CMarEng), Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), and Member of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (MIMarEST).
He was recognised in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list in 2023, named the Overall STEM Champion at the Milton Keynes STEM Awards in 2024, and included in the Stanford/Elsevier top scientists list in 2026.
Research opportunities
Dr Huang's research sits at the intersection of energy, fluids, and structures, with a particular emphasis on how they interact in marine environments. His expertise covers the design, modelling, experimental testing, deployment, and sustainability of offshore renewable energy systems. More recently, his research has expanded into artificial intelligence (AI), including AI-enhanced computational modelling, real-time digital twins, and intelligent monitoring and management technologies.
With a passion for real-world impacts, Dr Huang works closely with industry to translate research into practical engineering solutions. For example, he led a collaborative team to develop and deploy a pioneering offshore floating solar installation supplying renewable electricity to an off-grid island community in Indonesia.
Current activities
Dr Huang leads interdisciplinary research programmes in net-zero ocean technologies, bringing together academic institutions, industry partners, and international collaborators. He has successfully developed a portfolio of collaborative research projects with a combined value exceeding £10 million, funded by UKRI, the EU and industry.
His current research leadership focuses on three strategic areas:
Offshore wind: Dr Huang is the Coordinator of a €4.5 million Horizon Europe offshore wind programme.
Floating solar: He is Principal Investigator on approximately £2 million of floating solar research and demonstration projects.
Maritime decarbonisation: He serves as Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator on approximately £3 million of collaborative research projects supporting the decarbonisation of ships, ports, and maritime operations.
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Qin Q, Adeboye L, Ibrahim KA, Luk PC-K, Xie Y, .... (2026). Techno-economic and environmental assessment of floating solar power with innovative charging systems for decarbonizing maritime operations in the UK. Renewable Energy, 256, Part F
- Yang D, Shi W, Aliseda J, Gerval N, Rathakrishnan S, .... (2026). Digital twins for a floating photovoltaic system with experimental data mining and artificial intelligence modelling. Solar Energy, 305
- Zhang C, Zhou Y, Li J, Chu S, Qin Q, .... (2026). Data-driven prediction of wave response for a modular floating solar array. Ocean Engineering, 349
- Pu M, Huang Z, Chen W, Xu M, Du H, .... (2026). Efficiency enhancement of a unidirectional impulse turbine for dual-chamber OWC wave energy converters. Energy, 346
- Yang D, Mi C, Lyu X, Xie Y, Luo Z, .... (2026). Real-time machine learning-driven digital twin framework of a floating solar system in waves. Energy Conversion and Management, 356
- Nair A, Mi C, Verdin PG & Huang L. (2026). High-fidelity simulation of a novel rope-mesh structure for a floating photovoltaic array in waves. Marine Structures, 109
- Mi C, Lyu X, Ou B, Wong A, Verdin PG, .... (2026). Experimental study of a symmetric air-cushion-based floating solar platform: hydrodynamic performance and power output. Symmetry, 18(5)
- Zhang C, Bian Z, Li J, Zhou Y, Qin Q, .... (2026). Damage-guided neural network for multi-objective optimization of 2.5D woven composites: achieving balanced on/off-axis tensile performance. Composite Structures, 390
- Ou B, Seo JH, Qin Q & Huang L. (2026). Wave-structure interaction of offshore floating solar array: uniform and hybrid floaters. Journal of Energy Infrastructure, 1(2)
- Zhang C, Zhou Y, Li J, Chu S, Qin Q, .... (2026). Physics-guided graph attention surrogate modeling for wave-structure interactions of large-scale floating photovoltaic arrays. Ocean Engineering, 368, Part 4
- Wei Y, Khojasteh D, Windt C & Huang L. (2025). An interdisciplinary literature review of floating solar power plants. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 209
- Ding H, Huang L & Zang J. (2025). Nonlinear hydroelastic responses of a submerged horizontal plate under focused wave conditions: a cumulative fatigue perspective. Physics of Fluids, 37(1)
- Yuan X, Xu M, Hou Z, Chen W, Huang Y, .... (2025). Enhanced data-driven economic assessment of fuel cell electric buses utilizing an improved Markov chain Monte Carlo approach. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 102
- Huang L, Elzaabalawy H, Sarhaan M, Sherif A, Ding H, .... (2025). Developing reliable floating solar systems on seas: a review. Ocean Engineering, 322
- Ramsy de Fretes P, Jifaturrohman MI, Putranto T, Utama IKAP & Huang L. (2025). A study of the motion response of floating solar PV and cross-flow savonius turbine in moored conditions. BIO Web of Conferences, 157
- Yang Y, Huang L & Meylan MH. (2025). Wave interaction with multiple floating elastic plates with arbitrary constraints near a sloping beach. Physics of Fluids, 37(3)
- Ou B, Cerik BC & Huang L. (2025). Seakeeping analysis of catamaran and barge floats for floating solar arrays: a CFD study with experimental validation. Ocean Engineering, 326
- Ibrahim KA, Maréchal TL, Luk PC-K, Qin Q, Huang L, .... (2025). Floating solar wireless power transfer system for electric ships: design and laboratory tests. Energy Conversion and Management, 332
- Lyu X, Mi C, Collions S, Chen W, Yang D, .... (2025). Design and experimental tests for novel shapes of floating OWC wave energy converters with the additional purpose of breakwater. Ocean Engineering, 328
- Jifaturrohman MI, Utama IKAP, Putranto T, Setyawan D, Suastika IK, .... (2025). Hydrodynamic modeling of unstretched length variations in nonlinear catenary mooring systems for floating PV installations in small Indonesian Islands. Modelling, 6(2)
- Zheng Z, Hu J, Huang Q, Jin P, Yang Y, .... (2025). Optimization of dual-module floating photovoltaic arrays: layout configuration and damping mechanisms for enhanced stability and energy performance. Energy, 330
- Zhang C, Zhu X, Zhang C, Huang L & Ning D. (2025). Coupled hydro-aero-turbo dynamics of liquid-tank system for wave energy harvesting: numerical modellings and scaled prototype tests. Energy, 330
- Chen Z, Zhao WJ, Wang BC, Huang L, Ding JN, .... (2025). A first-of-its-kind two-stage dew-point evaporative cooler with high energy efficiency and compact design. Energy Conversion and Management, 341
- Mi C, Verdin PG, Nair A, Lyu X, Yang Y, .... (2025). An experimental study on the hydrodynamic performance of modular rope mesh floating solar platforms. Ocean Engineering, 339
- Chen Z, Wang BC, Huang L, Yang ZX, Cheng G, .... (2025). Energy-efficient cooling beyond M–cycle: development and evaluation of a two-stage dew-point evaporative cooler. Applied Thermal Engineering, 280, Part 1
- Nair A, Huang L & Verdin PG. (2025). Computational fluid dynamics and potential flow modelling techniques for floating photovoltaic systems: a systematic review. Symmetry, 17(9)
- Tavakoli S, Singh M, Hosseinzadeh S, Hu Z, Shao Y, .... (2025). A review of flexible fluid-structure interactions in the ocean: progress, challenges, and future directions. Ocean Engineering, 342, Part 1
- Xie W, Chen W, Huang W & Huang L. (2025). Enhancing wave energy conversion in oscillating water column devices using breather valve-based pneumatic regulation: a CFD study. Energy, 340
- Wei Y, Yu S, Jin P, Huang L, Elsherbiny K, .... (2024). Coupled analysis between catenary mooring and VLFS with structural hydroelasticity in waves. Marine Structures, 93(January)
- Xue Y, Zhong K, Ni B-Y, Li Z, Bergstrom M, .... (2024). A combined experimental and numerical approach to predict ship resistance and power demand in broken ice. Ocean Engineering, 292
- Benites-Munoz D, Huang L & Thomas G. (2024). Optimal array arrangement of oscillating wave surge converters: an analysis based on three devices. Renewable Energy, 222
- Chen W, Huang Z, Zhang Y, Wang L & Huang L. (2024). Hydrodynamic performance of a three-unit heave wave energy converter array under different arrangement. Renewable Energy, 221
- Wei Y, Yu S, Li X, Zhang C, Ning D, .... (2024). Hydrodynamic analysis of a heave-hinge wave energy converter combined with a floating breakwater. Ocean Engineering, 293
- Esparza I, Olábarri Candela Á, Huang L, Yang Y, Budiono C, .... (2024). Floating PV systems as an alternative power source: case study on three representative islands of Indonesia. Sustainability, 16(3)
- Utama IKAP, Setyawan D, Riyadi S, Hetharia WR, Thomas GA, .... (2024). Managing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesian sea transportation. Journal of Marine-Earth Science and Technology, 5(1)
- Wei Y, Zou D, Zhang D, Zhang C, Ou B, .... (2024). Motion characteristics of a modularized floating solar farm in waves. Physics of Fluids, 36(3)
- Yang Y, Ren K, Zhou B, Sun SY & Huang L. (2024). Wave interaction with multiple adjacent floating solar panels with arbitrary constraints. Physics of Fluids, 36(3)
- Chen W, Xie W, Zhang Y, Wang C, Wang L, .... (2024). Improving wave energy conversion performance of a floating BBDB-OWC system by using dual chambers and a novel enhancement plate. Energy Conversion and Management, 307
- Wei Y, Wang C, Chen W & Huang L. (2024). Array analysis on a seawall type of deformable wave energy converters. Renewable Energy, 225
- Luo C & Huang L. (2024). Energy efficiency analysis of a deformable wave energy converter using fully coupled dynamic simulations. Oceans, 5(2)
- Zheng Z, Jin P, Huang Q, Zhou B, Xiang R, .... (2024). Motion response and energy harvesting of multi-module floating photovoltaics in seas. Ocean Engineering, 310, Part 2
- Wang C, Wei Y, Chen W & Huang L. (2024). Hydroelastic modelling of a deformable wave energy converter including power take-off. Marine Structures, 98
- Cerik BC & Huang L. (2024). Recent advances in mechanical analysis and design of dynamic power cables for floating offshore wind turbines. Ocean Engineering, 311, Part 1(Part 1)
- Wang C, Wei Y, Chen W & Huang L. (2024). Interactive effects of deformable wave energy converters operating in close proximity. Energy, 308
- Huang L, Yang Y, Khojasteh D, Ou B & Luo Z. (2024). Floating solar power loss due to motions induced by ocean waves: an experimental study. Ocean Engineering, 312, Part 1
- Yu X, Xu X, Huang L, Qin Q & Zhang C. (2024). Compression after impact behavior of asymmetrically tapered laminates: experimental and numerical studies. Thin-Walled Structures, 205, Part B
- Yang Y & Huang L. (2024). Waves and structural strain induced by a uniform current flow underneath a semi-infinite floating solar coverage. Physical Review Fluids, 9(9)
- Jifaturrohman MI, Utama IKAP, Putranto T, Setyawan D & Huang L. (2024). A study into the correlation between single array-hull configurations and wave spectrum for floating solar photovoltaic systems. Ocean Engineering, 312
- Yang Y, Mi C, Ou B, Wong A, Duffy JG, .... (2024). A comparative experimental study on the hydrodynamic performance of two floating solar structures with a breakwater in waves. Solar Energy, 284
- Zou D, Wei Y, Ou B, Zhang C, Chu S, .... (2024). Effects of a breakwater on a floating solar farm in heading and oblique waves. Physics of Fluids, 36(11)
- Lyu X, Yang Y, Mi C, Tang CM, Adeboye L, .... (2024). A symmetric experimental study of the interaction between regular waves and a pontoon breakwater with novel fin attachments. Symmetry, 16(12)
- Jifaturrohman MI, Utama IKAP, Putranto T, Setyawan D & Huang L. (2024). A study into the effect of Hull Configuration on the performance of floating solar PV structure. Journal of Advanced Research in Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences, 124(2)
- Hu Z, Huang L & Li YP. (2023). Fully-coupled hydroelastic modeling of a deformable wall in waves. Coastal Engineering, 179(January)
- Huang L, Pena B & Thomas G. (2023). Towards a full-scale CFD guideline for simulating a ship advancing in open water. Ship Technology Research, 70(3)
- Ni B-Y, Tan H, Di S-C, Zhang C-X, Li Z, .... (2023). When does a light sphere break ice plate most by using its net buoyance?. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 11(2)
- Li Z, Ding L, Huang L, Ringsberg JW, Gong H, .... (2023). Cost-benefit analysis of a trans-Arctic alternative route to the Suez Canal: a method based on high-fidelity ship performance, weather, and ice forecast models. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 11(4)
- Huang L, Hetharia WR, Grech La Rosa A, Tavakoli S, Khojasteh D, .... (2023). Offshore COVID-19 risk assessment based on a fishing vessel. Ocean Engineering, 285, Part 2(October)
- Zhang C, Wang P, Huang L, Zhang M, Wu H, .... (2023). Resonance mechanism of hydroelastic response of multi-patch floating photovoltaic structure in water waves over stepped seabed. Physics of Fluids, 35(10)
- Marjan A & Huang L. (2023). Topology optimisation of offshore wind turbine jacket foundation for fatigue life and mass reduction. Ocean Engineering, 289, Part 1
- Khojasteh D, Shamsipour A, Huang L, Tavakoli S, Haghani M, .... (2023). A large-scale review of wave and tidal energy research over the last 20 years. Ocean Engineering, 282(August)
- Wei Y, Ou B, Wang J, Yang L, Luo Z, .... (2023). Simulation of a floating solar farm in waves with a novel sun-tracking system. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 1288(1)
- Huang L, Riyadi S, Utama IKAP, Li M, Sun P, .... (2022). COVID-19 transmission inside a small passenger vessel: risks and mitigation. Ocean Engineering, Ocean Engineering(July)
- Huang L, Igrec B & Thomas G. (2022). New tools to generate realistic ice floe fields for computational models. Journal of Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering, 144(4)
- Tavakoli S, Huang L, Azhari F & Babanin AV. (2022). Viscoelastic wave–ice interactions: a computational fluid–solid dynamic approach. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 10(9)
- Huang L, Li F, Li M, Khojasteh D, Luo Z, .... (2022). An investigation on the speed dependence of ice resistance using an advanced CFD+DEM approach based on pre-sawn ice tests. Ocean Engineering, 264(November)
- Zhang C, Zhuang Q-Z, Li J-X, Huang L & Ning D-Z. (2022). Hydroelastic investigation on a pile breakwater integrated with a flexible tail for long-wave attenuation. China Ocean Engineering, 36(5)
- Li F & Huang L. (2022). A Review of Computational Simulation Methods for a Ship Advancing in Broken Ice. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 10(2)
- Huang L, Li YP, Benites-Munoz D, Windt Windt C, Feichtner A, .... (2022). A review on the modelling of wave-structure interactions based on OpenFOAM. OpenFOAM® Journal, 2(August)
- Huang L, Pena B, Liu Y & Anderlini E. (2022). Machine learning in sustainable ship design and operation: a review. Ocean Engineering, 266
- Huang L & Li Y. (2022). Design of the submerged horizontal plate breakwater using a fully coupled hydroelastic approach. Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, 37(7)
- Pena B & Huang L. (2021). A review on the turbulence modelling strategy for ship hydrodynamic simulations. Ocean Engineering, 241
- Huang L, Li Z, Ryan C, Ringsberg JW, Pena B, .... (2021). Ship resistance when operating in floating ice floes: Derivation, validation, and application of an empirical equation. Marine Structures, 79
- Rehman FU, Huang L, Anderlini E & Thomas G. (2021). Hydrodynamic Modelling for a Transportation System of Two Unmanned Underwater Vehicles: Semi-Empirical, Numerical and Experimental Analyses. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 9(5)
- Huang L, Tavakoli S, Li M, Dolatshah A, Pena B, .... (2021). CFD analyses on the water entry process of a freefall lifeboat. Ocean Engineering, 232
- Li Z, Ryan C, Huang L, Ding L, Ringsberg JW, .... (2021). A comparison of two ship performance models against full-scale measurements on a cargo ship on the Northern Sea Route. Ships and Offshore Structures, 16(sup1)
- Pena B & Huang L. (2021). Wave-GAN: A deep learning approach for the prediction of nonlinear regular wave loads and run-up on a fixed cylinder. Coastal Engineering, 167
- Huang L, Li M, Romu T, Dolatshah A & Thomas G. (2021). Simulation of a ship operating in an open-water ice channel. Ships and Offshore Structures, 16(4)
- Ryan C, Huang L, Li Z, Ringsberg JW & Thomas G. (2021). An Arctic ship performance model for sea routes in ice-infested waters. Applied Ocean Research, 117
- Huang L, Tuhkuri J, Igrec B, Li M, Stagonas D, .... (2020). Ship resistance when operating in floating ice floes: A combined CFD&DEM approach. Marine Structures, 74
- Benites-Munoz D, Huang L, Anderlini E, Marín-Lopez JR & Thomas G. (2020). Hydrodynamic Modelling of An Oscillating Wave Surge Converter Including Power Take-Off. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 8(10)
- Khojasteh D, Tavakoli S, Dashtimanesh A, Dolatshah A, Huang L, .... (2020). Numerical analysis of shipping water impacting a step structure. Ocean Engineering, 209
- Huang L, Ren K, Li M, Tuković Ž, Cardiff P, .... (2019). Fluid-structure interaction of a large ice sheet in waves. Ocean Engineering, 182
- Huang L & Thomas G. (2019). Simulation of Wave Interaction With a Circular Ice Floe. Journal of Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering, 141(4)
Conference Papers
- Yang D & Huang L. (2026). Digital twin development for ocean-based offshore floating solar systems
- Huang L, Mi C, Hildawan O, Riyadi S, Jifaturrohman MI, .... (2026). A pioneering ocean-based floating solar farm in Indonesia
- Huang L. (2024). Energy fluctuation of floating photovoltaic solar panel due to wave-induced motions
- Jifaturrohman MI, Putranto T, Utama IKAP & Huang L. (2024). Effect of platform configurations and environmental conditions on the performance of floating solar photovoltaic structures
- Dhaifullah MH, Jifaturrohman MI, Putranto T, Setyawan D, Utama IKAP, .... (2024). Enhancing pure oscillatory response motion performance: innovative designs for semi-submersible and catamaran floating photovoltaic systems (FPVs) in various sea-state conditions
- Li Y, Hu Z & Huang L. (2022). Hydroelastic Simulation of Breaking Wave Impact on a Flexible Coastal Seawall
- Benites-Munoz D, Thomas G & Huang L. (2022). The Influence of Different Configurations and Spacings on the Performance of Oscillating Wave Surge Converters When Operating in Wave Farms
- Huang L, Riyadi S, Utama IKAP & Thomas G. (2022). Computational Study on the Transmission of COVID-19 Virus Inside a Ship
- Huang L, Li F & Li M. (2022). Simulation of a Ship Advancing in Pre-Sawn Ice
- Grech La Rosa A, Ryan C, Thomas G, Huang L, Hetharia W, .... (2022). DESIGN OF A MOBILE APPLICATION TO ASSESS THE STABILITY OF SMALL FISHING BOATS
- Grande D, Huang L, Harris CA, Wu P, Thomas G, .... (2021). Open-source Simulation of Underwater Gliders
- Tavakoli S, Huang L & Babanin AV. (2021). Drift Motion of Floating Bodies Under the Action of Green Water
- Thomas G, Huang L, Ryan C, Utama IKAP, Riyadi S, .... (2021). SAFER ON BOARD ENVIRONMENTS FOR INDONESIAN SEAFARERS AND FISHERS IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 AND BEYOND
- Huang L, Li Z, Ryan C, Li M, Ringsberg J, .... (2021). Ship Resistance When Operating in Floating Ice Floes: A Derivation of Empirical Equations
- Huang L, Ryan C, Igrec B, Grech La Rosa A, Stagonas D, .... (2020). Ship Resistance When Operating in Floating Ice Floes: A Derivation of Empirical Equations
- Benites-Munoz D, Huang L, Anderlini E, Marín-López J & Thomas G. (2020). Simulation of the wave evolution and power capture of an oscillating wave surge converter
- Pena B, Huang L & Ahlgren F. (2020). A review on applications of machine learning in shipping sustainability
- Huang L, Li M, Igrec B, Cardiff P, Stagonas D, .... (2019). Simulation of a ship advancing in floating ice floes
Books
- Huang L. (2026). Ocean Solar Farms In Synthesis Lectures on Renewable Energy Technologies. Springer Nature Switzerland.
- Huang L. (2026). Ocean Renewable Energy Systems
- Huang L. (2026). Wave Energy Converters In Synthesis Lectures on Renewable Energy Technologies. Springer Nature Switzerland.
- Huang L. (2026). Tidal Energy Converters In Synthesis Lectures on Renewable Energy Technologies. Springer Nature Switzerland.
- Huang L. (2026). Future Perspectives: Hybrid, Integration, and Digitalization In Synthesis Lectures on Renewable Energy Technologies. Springer Nature Switzerland.
- Huang L. (2026). Offshore Wind Turbines In Synthesis Lectures on Renewable Energy Technologies. Springer Nature Switzerland.
- Huang L. (2026). Epilogue In Synthesis Lectures on Renewable Energy Technologies. Springer Nature Switzerland.
- Huang L. (2026). Introduction In Synthesis Lectures on Renewable Energy Technologies. Springer Nature Switzerland.
