Reading Geek Night – Powering the Future: Solar, Batteries & the Connected Home

Basingstoke Science Cafe members are invited to the in-person Science in Reading event "Powering the Future: Solar, Batteries & the Connected Home" delivered by Mark Golding from Spirit Energy.

SiR monthly meetups are held upstairs at Zero Degrees (9 Bridge St, Reading RG1 2LR) from 7pm.

So please do come along, grab a beer/food at the downstairs bar (the mango beer and wood fired pizza are epic) and come share your geekery and enjoy a relaxed evening of talks + networking + beers.

Everyone welcome!

• 7:00pm Arrivals
• 7:30pm Welcome and Introductions
• 7:35pm Powering the Future: Solar, Batteries & the Connected Home (Mark Golding – Spirit Energy)
• 8:30pm Short announcements/updates*
• 8:35pm Pub Quiz (Please bring a pencil & paper)
• 9:30pm End(Networking and beers downstairs)

Powering the Future: Solar, Batteries & the Connected Home (Mark Golding – Spirit Energy)
Go beyond the hype and dive into the fundamentals of Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative AI. This in-person talk will demystify how these powerful models work, explore the critical differences between models and the applications built on them, and discuss the essential topics of data, ownership, and context. Join us for live demonstrations and an open discussion on the real-world capabilities and limitations of this transformative technology.

Paul is a seasoned cloud architect and Senior Google Trainer, he specializes in creating powerful cloud solutions that address real-world business challenges. With a background spanning development, deployment, sales, and strategy, he brings a uniquely holistic perspective to cloud & AI technology.

His passion lies in all things data: its efficient movement, rapid ingestion, and the immense possibilities it unlocks across diverse sources – from IoT devices to high-performance enterprise data pipelines and large-scale data warehouses.

Please note: This title and description are provisional and may be updated once final details are confirmed with the speaker.

SPEAKER
Mark Golding is a renewable energy specialist with Spirit Energy, helping homeowners and organisations navigate the rapidly changing world of sustainable energy technologies. His work focuses on the practical application of solar generation, battery storage and smart energy solutions, helping customers understand how emerging technologies can reduce costs, improve energy resilience and support the transition to a lower-carbon future.

Drawing on real-world experience and industry knowledge, Mark will share insights into the opportunities and challenges shaping the next generation of home energy systems.

About Reading Geek Night
A friendly and welcoming community for enthusiasts.
Every second Tuesday of the month Reading Geek Night has talks on various topics about science, tech, design & geekery. The usual format is to gather from 7:00pm and commence the talks at 7:30pm. Talks are ~20mins + Q&A with a break of 20mins for networking and beer.

*Before the second session there is an opportunity for any short announcements so please let us know on the night if you would like a slot or 1-2mins.
Look forward to seeing you there!

Get involved and support the community
If you would like to get involved with your local #rdggeek community by giving a talk or hosting a quiz at an upcoming event please contact us via twitter: @RDGGeekNight, Facebook or email us: **talks [at] rdggeeknight.org**
Speaking slot availability can be found via the website.