Latest news with #NORA
Irish Times
27-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Irish biofuel sales fall even as demand rises
Sales of Irish-made green transport fuel tumbled last year, despite sharp rises in consumption spurred by a Government scheme, figures show. Suppliers must blend biofuel with diesel and petrol sold to motorists under the Government's Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation, meant to aid the State's efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Figures from Government bod, the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) show that the amount of Irish-made biofuel used here last year tumbled 21 per cent to 46 million litres from 58 million litres, despite overall consumption rising by 20 per cent. Confirming those numbers, the Department of Transport pointed out that the 'volume of biofuels sourced from Ireland has more than doubled in the period 2017 to 2024″. READ MORE A spokeswoman added that this was consistent with the overall growth in biofuel use here over that time. Industry sources say that the profits from the type of biofuel mostly produced here, fatty acid methyl ester (Fame) 'have plummeted' in recent years in the face of competition from other fuels, including hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO). Those sources maintain that the problem is widespread in Europe. They also point out that the fall in sales indicates that the waste, mostly animal fat, used to produce Fame, is not being collected here. The Government is considering the 'need to support and develop Irish production of biofuel and biogas' in its latest renewable transport fuel policy, which runs for the next two years, according to the department's spokeswoman. The policy, published this week, commits the Government to reviewing incentives to promote the use of different types of biofuel, including how that could contribute to the development of Irish products. Irish and European producers have been warning for several years that biofuel imports from different countries, mostly in southeast Asia, are fraudulently labelled as coming from waste. A key concern is that many of them are made from virgin palm oil, which the European Union does not regard as sustainable biofuel as its production requires the destruction of native forest, or other raw materials that do not qualify under European rules. Industry figures point out that the most recent figures show that about a third of the 450 million litres of biofuel used here in 2024 came from countries where the risk of fraud is high, mostly China, Indonesia and Malaysia. Germany is considering banning biofuels made in factories outside the EU where government on-site inspections are not possible. The department's spokeswoman pointed out that the EU Renewable Energy Directive required all biofuel imports to the bloc, including to the Republic, to meet the same strict sustainability standards imposed by the union on its own producers. According to the department, the NORA is responsible for ensuring that biofuel sold here meets sustainability and greenhouse gas emission reductions obligations set out in the directive and the Government's Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation. The Government's latest policy reduces, but does not eliminate, incentives for some classes of renewable fuels said to be most vulnerable to fraud.
Local Norway
04-06-2025
- Business
- Local Norway
Norwegian fjord paradise offers free rent to digital nomads
The village, situated at the far end of the UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord, saw the offer taken up enthusiastically when it was launched in 2024 with 750,000 kroner in funding from the Nordic Atlantic Cooperation (NORA), with over 300 people applying for the 15 places. The initiative, known as the Arctic Digital Nomads Grant , allows individuals with flexible, location-independent jobs to apply for free accommodation and office space in three sparsely populated winter destinations—Geiranger in Norway, Þingeyri in Iceland, and Vágur in the Faroe Islands. "A colleague of mine said that we were probably not prepared for success," Katrin Blomvik Bakken, director of the Geiranger World Heritage Foundation told the public braodcaster NRK. "This time we will be more professional." The pilot last winter saw 15 recipients settle temporarily in Geiranger and the neighbouring villages of Norddal and Eidsdal, with one of the temporary residents now planning to stay longer. Last year's initiative included around 15 participants spread across Geiranger and neighbouring villages Norddal and Eidsdal. Some are already planning to return — and even settle. 'One family is moving back to the village of Norddal. They are coming this autumn and will stay for a year initially,' Blomvik Bakken said. The goal, Blomvik Bakken said, was to inject life into towns village where centralisation is slowly killing off the countryside. While Portugal and Italy have had success with similar digital nomad schemes, the Arctic variant is unusual in seeking to attract visitors during the area's harsh winter. 'We're looking for people who not only can work from anywhere but also want to engage in local life,' said Blomvik Bakken. Advertisement Last year's nomads included freelancers, entrepreneurs, and artists, many of whom ended up forming close bonds with residents. A key lesson from the first round was the need for better infrastructure to manage interest. A new application portal, currently being developed by previous participants, is expected to go live in October. 'Then I won't get a flood of applications to my private email address this time,' said Blomvik Bakken with a laugh. 'And we are really looking forward to that, because it was quite a big task.' According to Marit Mellingen, director of Norway's national District Centre, success depends not just on housing and jobs but on local integration. 'What we know is important to get people to stay in a place, is that they thrive and feel included in the local community,' Mellingen told NRK. Local residents in Geiranger seem to have taken that advice to heart. Blomvik Bakken noted that the community made a strong effort to welcome this winter's nomads — an effort her own family noticed. Her daughter Nora, for example, was 'happy to get new playmates.'
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
HILCO REAL ESTATE SALES CONTINUES PARTNERSHIP WITH NORA FOR UPCOMING NEW ORLEANS AUCTION FEATURING RESIDENTIAL & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
NORTHBROOK, Ill., May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilco Real Estate Sales is pleased to announce its continued participation with the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA) and their upcoming online auction of 100± vacant land parcels. Bidding will begin at 8:00 a.m. (CT), Tuesday, June 17, 2025, and conclude between 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. (CT) on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. This next installment features 97 vacant residential lots and 11 non-housing development opportunities, all with opening bids starting at $4,000. The addition of these non-housing sites presents a unique opportunity for individuals, neighborhood groups and local organizations to transform underutilized parcels into key community assets such as impactful spaces such as community gardens, green spaces, playgrounds, pocket parks, art installations or other public-use projects that serve local neighborhoods. These parcels are ideal for enhancing the livability and sustainability of the surrounding communities, especially when acquired by adjacent property owners for expansion or beautification purposes. "We are excited to expand this auction to include non-housing development options that can serve as catalysts for community connection," said Brenda Breaux, executive director of the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority. "With the inclusion of these parcels, we're encouraging innovative, community-driven projects that breathe new life into NOLA." Fernando Palacios, strategic consultant with Hilco Real Estate Sales, added, "This auction offers buyers an accessible entry point into property ownership while also supporting broader city revitalization. It empowers New Orleans residents to invest in their neighborhoods through creative and meaningful uses of land." The properties are being sold on an "as-is, where-is" basis. Winning bidders are required to complete rehabilitation or construction within 18 months of closing. For properties with a non-housing development option, buyers must complete a non-residential use—such as a garden, green space or similar project—in accordance with the New Orleans Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance within the same 18-month period. All buyers must keep properties code compliant from the time of closing through project completion. Prior to the auction, on-site inspections can be conducted at any time at the viewer's leisure. Closing is required within 30 calendar days after the auction and financing will not be a contingency so buyers will need to know they can close on their purchase within the required timeframe and have available pre-approval for their own personal financing. Buyers must obtain and maintain flood insurance for any structures as a condition of closing. There will be a virtual "Buyers' Seminar" on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. (CT). For more information, including registration requirements, about this NORA auction, please contact Fernando Palacios at (504) 500-1891 or visit The terms and conditions set forth herein are for informational purposes only and shall not be deemed to be and are not intended to be a comprehensive or complete listing of the applicable terms and conditions. All potential buyers should read carefully the terms and conditions of the auction and sale set forth at The terms and conditions set forth at shall govern and shall supersede any terms and conditions set forth herein. For further information on the properties, sale process and terms, please visit or call (855) 755-2300. About Hilco Real Estate Sales Successfully positioning the real estate holdings within a company's portfolio is a material component of establishing and maintaining a strong financial foundation for long-term success. At Hilco Real Estate Sales (HRE), a Hilco Global company ( we advise and execute strategies to assist clients seeking to optimize their real estate assets, improve cash flow, maximize asset value and minimize liabilities and portfolio risk. We help clients traverse complex transactions and transitions, coordinating with internal and external networks and constituents to navigate ever-challenging market environments. The trusted, full-service HRE team has secured billions in value for hundreds of clients over 20+ years. We are deeply experienced in complex transactions including artful lease renegotiation, multi-faceted sales structures, strategic asset management and capital optimization. We understand the legal, financial, and real estate components of the process, all of which are vital to a successful outcome. HRE can help identify the most viable options and direction for a company and its real estate portfolio, delivering impressive results in every situation. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Hilco Real Estate, LLC Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
HILCO REAL ESTATE SALES CONTINUES PARTNERSHIP WITH NORA FOR UPCOMING NEW ORLEANS AUCTION FEATURING RESIDENTIAL & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
NORTHBROOK, Ill., May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilco Real Estate Sales is pleased to announce its continued participation with the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA) and their upcoming online auction of 100± vacant land parcels. Bidding will begin at 8:00 a.m. (CT), Tuesday, June 17, 2025, and conclude between 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. (CT) on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. This next installment features 97 vacant residential lots and 11 non-housing development opportunities, all with opening bids starting at $4,000. The addition of these non-housing sites presents a unique opportunity for individuals, neighborhood groups and local organizations to transform underutilized parcels into key community assets such as impactful spaces such as community gardens, green spaces, playgrounds, pocket parks, art installations or other public-use projects that serve local neighborhoods. These parcels are ideal for enhancing the livability and sustainability of the surrounding communities, especially when acquired by adjacent property owners for expansion or beautification purposes. "We are excited to expand this auction to include non-housing development options that can serve as catalysts for community connection," said Brenda Breaux, executive director of the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority. "With the inclusion of these parcels, we're encouraging innovative, community-driven projects that breathe new life into NOLA." Fernando Palacios, strategic consultant with Hilco Real Estate Sales, added, "This auction offers buyers an accessible entry point into property ownership while also supporting broader city revitalization. It empowers New Orleans residents to invest in their neighborhoods through creative and meaningful uses of land." The properties are being sold on an "as-is, where-is" basis. Winning bidders are required to complete rehabilitation or construction within 18 months of closing. For properties with a non-housing development option, buyers must complete a non-residential use—such as a garden, green space or similar project—in accordance with the New Orleans Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance within the same 18-month period. All buyers must keep properties code compliant from the time of closing through project completion. Prior to the auction, on-site inspections can be conducted at any time at the viewer's leisure. Closing is required within 30 calendar days after the auction and financing will not be a contingency so buyers will need to know they can close on their purchase within the required timeframe and have available pre-approval for their own personal financing. Buyers must obtain and maintain flood insurance for any structures as a condition of closing. There will be a virtual "Buyers' Seminar" on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. (CT). For more information, including registration requirements, about this NORA auction, please contact Fernando Palacios at (504) 500-1891 or visit The terms and conditions set forth herein are for informational purposes only and shall not be deemed to be and are not intended to be a comprehensive or complete listing of the applicable terms and conditions. All potential buyers should read carefully the terms and conditions of the auction and sale set forth at The terms and conditions set forth at shall govern and shall supersede any terms and conditions set forth herein. For further information on the properties, sale process and terms, please visit or call (855) 755-2300. About Hilco Real Estate Sales Successfully positioning the real estate holdings within a company's portfolio is a material component of establishing and maintaining a strong financial foundation for long-term success. At Hilco Real Estate Sales (HRE), a Hilco Global company ( we advise and execute strategies to assist clients seeking to optimize their real estate assets, improve cash flow, maximize asset value and minimize liabilities and portfolio risk. We help clients traverse complex transactions and transitions, coordinating with internal and external networks and constituents to navigate ever-challenging market environments. The trusted, full-service HRE team has secured billions in value for hundreds of clients over 20+ years. We are deeply experienced in complex transactions including artful lease renegotiation, multi-faceted sales structures, strategic asset management and capital optimization. We understand the legal, financial, and real estate components of the process, all of which are vital to a successful outcome. HRE can help identify the most viable options and direction for a company and its real estate portfolio, delivering impressive results in every situation. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Hilco Real Estate, LLC
Techday NZ
23-05-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Ultra Violette proves tech transformation is a team sport
The cult Australian SPF-meets-skincare brand has been on a rapid growth trajectory since launching in 2019. From eCommerce-only roots to international expansion and major retail partnerships, Ultra Violette now operates across Australia, the UK, Southeast Asia, Canada and the US. Sustaining that level of growth meant rethinking the systems underneath it. In a recent NORA webinar, Ultra Violette's Head of Operations Jane Furphy and Annexa Director Matthew Owens shared the decisions that made it possible. Before the tech, the team By 2023, it was clear Ultra Violette had outgrown its original stack. With multiple instances of Xero and DEAR/Cin7 spread across regions, inventory visibility was limited, reporting was fractured and order management was increasingly manual. That would be a problem for any retailer but with a North American expansion looming, Ultra Violette couldn't afford any blind spots. Still, the transformation didn't start with selecting an ERP. It started with building the right internal capability to lead the change. "We had a fantastic finance manager - 2IC to the CFO - and we thought she would be great to lead the project... but we actually moved her from the finance team into my team so that we could make sure that she was a fully rounded finance and operational person who could help guide the team and understand both sides of that coin to be able to translate really easily between finance and operations." That move helped unify decision-making across teams and kept the implementation grounded in how the business actually worked. Cross-functional by necessity Digital transformation efforts often fall apart when teams solve for their own needs in isolation - finance chasing reporting fixes, ops focused on fulfilment and eCommerce doing its own thing. At Ultra Violette, the process forced those silos to come down. "Our e-commerce team were a big part of bringing in NetSuite and changing all of these systems," said Jane. "The rest of the business hadn't realised how big a part they would play." That shared involvement helped build momentum across the business - and the move to embed finance capability within ops further bridged the gap. The result was faster decision-making and smoother implementation across teams that were far more connected than before. The right system still matters – but it's not enough With the internal structure in place, Ultra Violette partnered with Annexa to implement, NetSuite as their ERP and Celigo as their integration platform. The project spanned four markets, four warehouses, and a new EDI setup – all delivered in under six months, just ahead of Black Friday. That speed was only possible because of the alignment behind the scenes. Jane credits the team's discipline around decision-making - particularly when it came to customisations. As she explained, the team encouraged users to spend time with the system before requesting changes. "If it really added value, we'd make the change but only where it was worthwhile." Matthew echoed the approach, noting that while restraint is important, so is confidence in tailoring systems when it makes sense. "Try not to customise wherever possible - but don't be afraid to if it creates real value. UV struck that balance well." A partner with the right fit Annexa played a central role in reducing risk throughout the project. From aligning regional operations to managing complex integrations, their team worked closely with Ultra Violette to keep the rollout on track. "We're detail people," said Jane. "We needed a partner who could work at that level of detail with us – someone we could reach quickly, who had local experience and who'd worked with businesses like ours before." That partnership proved particularly valuable during the warehouse integration phase. With four 3PLs going live across multiple regions in the lead-up to peak season, fallback plans and real-time coordination were essential. The go-live landed cleanly. A model for others scaling fast Ultra Violette's transformation offers a useful counterpoint to the platform-first approach many retailers take. Technology matters but leadership, structure, internal alignment and external partners are what determine whether it actually delivers. Want the full story? Catch the on-demand webinar to hear Jane and Matt unpack: · Building flexibility across D2C and wholesale · Structuring your teams to reduce friction
