Audio tour From Hydropower to Datapower

Did you know that your gaming, TikTok, and AI chatbots are powered by the same energy source that launched Norway's industrial adventure over 100 years ago?   

In 1908, some brilliant minds transformed the waterfalls of Odda into a driving force that lifted Norway from poverty to prosperity. On this tour, you'll see the impressive production line at the Smelting Plant site – from the quay where raw materials arrived, to the towering factory buildings where red-hot technology transformed ordinary stone into products that changed the world. You'll also see the remains of the power lines that brought the life-giving electricity to the area and made it all possible.

Why is this relevant to you today? Because history repeats itself! The same clean hydropower that drove the smelting plant now powers the data centers that store your social media photos and run the AI models you use. Just as Britain's industrial revolution was powered by coal in the 19th century, our digital revolution is being powered by renewable energy. Where the Odda factories produced fertilizer that fed a growing world, data centers now enable the digital world we live in.

By exploring this historic industrial site, you get not only insight into the past, but also a deeper understanding of our digital present and future. From waterfalls to fiber optics – same green power, new revolution!

The project is supported by Sparebankstiftelsen Vestland, Ullensvang Municipality, Boliden Industries, and StoryPhone. Academic resources include Kraftmuseet, Jaggen, Randi Bårdstveit, Terje Kolbotn, and Claude 3.7. Digital producer and cultural educator Lage Thune Myrberget has led the entire project and completed all production.