The power plant utilises a 60-metre fall into the Elstadelva river. This fall has been utilised on several occasions over the years. I 1909, a power plant was built on the same site as the other privately owned power plants in Norway. The power plant provided electricity for the village until the Nedre Fiskumfoss power plant was put into operation in 1946. Then the power plant in Knutfossen was demolished and the machines sold. Today’s power plant was licensed in 2007 and was ready for regular operation from 2010. The power plant was built privately, but later taken over by Småkraft. Learn more about the history of this project from the trade magazine Energiteknikk.
Two Francis turbines are installed to run a generator with a maximum output of 4871 kW. The waterway is 1361 metres long, and the pipes have a diameter of 2000 mm.