The UK?s first vehicle-to-grid (V2G) demonstrator project has launched in Nottingham this week.

As we work towards becoming a carbon neutral city, we have been investing in electric vehicles, and now 51% of the City Council?s fleet is electric. But this transition brings challenges around our energy supply to charge these vehicles. The vehicle-to-grid pilot is allowing us to explore innovative ways to use renewable technologies, energy storage and intelligent management systems together to test solutions which could be rolled out in other areas of the country.

Installation of solar panels, battery storage and 40 bi-directional electric vehicle charging units mark the completion of the CleanMobilEnergy pilot at the City Council?s Eastcroft Depot. Funded by Interreg North-West Europe, with a contribution from Innovate UK, the pilot will show how technology can be used to improve energy demands caused by changing fleet from traditional internal combustion engines to electric vehicles.

More here

Being able to recognise and say thank you to our neighbourhood community heroes is so important, and that's why Nottingham City Homes, soon to be the Housing Services division when they join us on 1 April, holds the Nottingham Housing Heroes Awards each year.

The awards recognise people and groups who make a real difference to their communities; this year?s winners include Shifting your Mindset, a BAME Dads? programme in Bilborough that won both the Best Health and Wellbeing Project and the Best Green Initiative awards this year.

Shifting your Mindset is a group of dads who have come together to transform their local community garden into a green, safe space that?s helping individuals and the local community improve their wellbeing, reduce isolation and foster positive connections. At the same time, they?re helping to create a great outdoor space for the wider local community ? including growing food produce, flowers and even building a wellbeing bench in memory of people who have lost their battle to mental health.

You can read more about the Nottingham Housing Heroes Awards here.?

Do you want to make your street and neighbourhood a nicer place to live? You can join in with Keep Britain Tidy?s Big Spring Clean between 17 March ? 2 April.

Individuals, groups or schools can join in to help limit the amount of harmful litter on our streets. The City Council?s Clean Champions scheme has created an army of volunteers who take to the streets in their neighbourhoods to help bring some tidiness and pride back. You can find out more and join your own local group here.

I would like to wish a very happy St Patrick?s Day to everyone celebrating today.

Nottingham and the region has a vibrant Irish community and hundreds of you have been enjoying the Annual St Patrick?s Day event in the city. I hope you all enjoyed the range of Irish and Irish-inspired live music and culture on stage Old Market Square.

It?s Mothering Sunday this weekend and a chance for mums and grandmas to be thanked and treated for all they do.

If you?re looking for ideas, there are some beautiful, freshly planted gifts at our Woodthorpe Park Plant Shop with prices starting from ?4.99. The shop is open every day from 10am to 4pm. https://woodthorpeparkplantshop.com/