British Waterways has inked an agreement with The Small Hydro Company to generate 210,000 MWhours of renewable energy per yearfrom its 2,200-mile waterway network.

The initiative will invest around £120m of private capital over the next three years to develop approximately 25 small-scale hydro-electricity schemes generating enough power for around 40,000 homes.

Backed by Climate Change Capital’s Ventus Fund, the process of gaining consents for the first five hydro schemes alongside river weirs will begin later this month.

Microsoft has cut the price of leasing software by as much as 25 percent.

Companies can sign up for discounts on SQL Server, SharePoint and other Microsoft software, or two bundles of client-access licenses, according to notices posted on the Microsoft Incentives website.

One special promotion is 'Simplify and Save', which offers savings of 15 percent for those who consolidate at least two existing license agreements into an Open Value agreement. Microsoft said the discount will run for the entire length of a three-year license deal.