The document summarizes the timeline of a project called Active Energy from 2007-2017 which aimed to develop renewable energy technologies from the Thames River in London. It began when an artist was commissioned to work with older community members called the Geezers to explore this idea. Over the years, the project gained funding and partners to conduct research and workshops. Key milestones included installing a small turbine on a community building in 2010, testing a prototype in the Thames in 2013, and finally constructing and installing a floating water wheel at Three Mills in 2016-2017 to generate renewable energy from the river.

2. 2007
Artist Loraine Leeson is commissioned by Space to address the
question of why the experience of older people is failing to inform the
development of new technologies
She meets The Geezers…

4. Ted asks:
“When electricity prices prevent older people from heating their homes, and
the Thames is just down the road, why aren’t we using it to power our
community?”
They begin their research…

13. The Not Quite Yet: on the margins of technology
exhibition opens at Space 27th
January 2007

17. renamed Active Energy, the project continues with a small amount of
funding from Comic Relief

23. 2009
Space raise further funding and the group runs workshops
in Bow Boys School
Engineer Toby Borland from University of East London
joins the team
Professor Stephen Dodds, renowned for developing the
control system for the European Space Commission,
also supports the project

45. 2010
The pupils’ best turbine design is installed on the roof of
Appian Court, the AgeUK venue where the Geezers meet
At night it lights up to spell out Geezerpower

53. Meanwhile the quest continues to create a prototype for a low cost
tidal turbine capable of generating power from the River Thames
The project finds funding support from Big Lottery

68. 2012
The project is interrupted when Loraine Leeson is offered a
residency in Pittsburgh
She sets up online communications between The Geezers and
Northside Seniors, who then develop their own project
Both are shown at the Mattress Factory Museum of installation

78. Meanwhile back in London plans for a turbine in the
Thames continue and a barge in central London is
offered as a testing base

103. 2013
The turbine is tried out in the River Thames

108. 2014/15
Loraine joins the Hydrocitizenship project at Middlesex
University, which supports project development, but only in
the River Lea
Plans commence for a floating water wheel at Three Mills that
will drive an aerator to support fish and wildlife during periods
of high pollution
Thames21 provides help and environmental advice
House Mill offers a venue for meetings and launch

116. 2016
wheel construction at House Mill

126. 2017
installation

133. Active Energy: Three Mills
the project team

134. special thanks to House Mill for hosting the launch