Power production at Tinfos
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You are now standing by Tinfos I. Have you noticed that the short side of the building is decorated with lightning bolts? This should give you a clue about the function of the building: this was the first hydroelectric power station in Notodden. Tinfos I was built by the owners of Tinfos Paper Factory. They wanted to start a calcium carbide plant down by the Heddalsvatn lake, powered by electrical energy from Tinfos I. The power station was in operation from 1901 to 1955, and it served more purposes than the owners of Tinfos had first envisioned. Tinfos I was crucial in Sam Eyde and the Swedes Knut and Markus Wallenberg’s decision to establish their factory in Notodden. They needed electricity to start a trial run production of artificial fertilizer using experimental technology. However, they did not want to build their own power station for this, but they could rent electricity from Tinfos! Tinfos I was extended by 9 meters and got two extra generators to cover the power needs of the industrial endeavor that would become Norsk Hydro. This collaboration would have a major impact on the lives along the waterway. Without Tinfos, there would be no Norsk Hydro in Notodden and Rjukan!