DarbyTech attended a major industry event today at Hartlepool College of Further Education marking the agreement between X-energy and Centrica to deploy the UK’s first Advanced Modular Reactor (AMR) power station at Hartlepool.
The project represents a significant milestone for the UK’s clean energy ambitions. Once operational, the advanced modular reactor is expected to generate enough power for around 1.5 million homes, while creating thousands of skilled jobs and delivering an estimated £12 billion in economic value to the region.

The event brought together key stakeholders from across industry, education, and government, including engineering leaders, educators, apprentices, and local organisations. Discussions throughout the day focused on the vital role that training and workforce development will play in delivering the next generation of nuclear and clean energy infrastructure.

DarbyTech attended the event to demonstrate how practical training equipment can support this emerging skills pipeline. We showcased its new Lockout Tagout Demonstrator, a hands-on learning system designed to teach trainees the critical safety procedures required in industrial environments.

The demonstrator allows learners to experience safe isolation procedures, pressure systems, and lockout/tagout protocols in a controlled training environment. By replicating real-world industrial processes, the system helps develop the practical competence required for careers in sectors such as nuclear power, hydrogen production, and wider clean energy industries.

DarbyTech says the goal of the system is simple: real skills for the real world. With major infrastructure projects such as the proposed Hartlepool AMR development on the horizon, the demand for engineers and technicians with strong safety knowledge and practical experience is expected to grow rapidly.

Adding a touch of personality to the demonstration stand was DarbyDog, DarbyTech’s quadruped robotics platform, which was on hand throughout the day, keeping a close eye on the pressure gauges as the Lockout Tagout system operated.

The event at Hartlepool College of Further Education highlighted the importance of collaboration between education providers, technology companies, and energy leaders. Together, these partnerships aim to ensure the region has the skilled workforce required to deliver the UK’s future energy infrastructure.

For DarbyTech, the day reinforced a key message: investing in skills, safety training, and practical education will be essential to supporting the UK’s transition toward sustainable and secure energy systems.
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DarbyTech is celebrating the success of Ahmad Ibrahim, who won the KTP Three Minute Project Competition at Teesside University last night.

The competition challenges Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) associates to present their complex research projects in just three minutes, communicating their work clearly and effectively to a wider audience. Ahmad’s winning presentation highlighted the innovative research taking place through DarbyTech’s hydrogen development programme.

Ahmad joined DarbyTech during a particularly exciting phase of the company’s growth and innovation. Since then, his research and technical expertise have played an important role in advancing the company’s Hydrogen Research project, supporting the development of educational and training technologies designed to prepare the next generation of engineers for the emerging hydrogen economy.

The KTP programme, which connects universities with industry partners, enables businesses to collaborate with academic institutions to drive innovation, improve competitiveness, and accelerate research-led development. Ahmad’s achievement reflects both the strength of the partnership and the impact that applied research can have when academia and industry work together.

DarbyTech said it was proud to see Ahmad’s hard work recognised by the judging panel and the wider university community.

Winning the competition is a significant achievement and highlights the quality of the work being carried out through the collaboration between DarbyTech and Teesside University.
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The DarbyTech team congratulated Ahmad on the award, describing it as a well-deserved recognition of his dedication, research, and contribution to the company’s hydrogen innovation efforts.