On Tuesday 8th October a new design of tidal turbine was tested for the first time on the River Thames. Over fifty people including John Biggs, GLA member for City and East, attended an event to celebrating this highspot in the five-year Active Energy project, where a small-scale turbine was moored alongside the Tamesis Dock barge to test its functionality. It is the first turbine of this scale developed for slow moving tidal rivers and has potential for low-cost replication for developing nations overseas.

The turbine was developed and built by engineer Toby Borland in consultation with a group of older men attending the Geezers Club at an AgeUK centre in East London. Five years previously when artist Loraine Leeson, who is leading the project, asked the Geezers what technology could significantly improve their lives, they decided that this would be to use energy generated by the River Thames to power their community. Since that time they have been working with the interdisciplinary team that has gathered around this project to turn their dream into reality.

Active Energy Turbine installation October 2013 from Loraine Leeson on Vimeo.

The project has been supported throughout by the expertise and generosity of a host of individuals and organisations including the arts organisation SPACE; social scientist Professor Ann Light of Northumbria University; engineer Stephen Dodds, Emeritus Professor at University of East London and renowned for developing the control system for the European Space Commission; Tamesis Dock owner and scientist Dr. Nithin Rai; Jamie Hodge who provided expert help with marketing and publicity; and Fran Gallardo who provided graphic design. The turbine has now been taken away for improvements. Further funding is being raised to allow the work to continue.