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Medway Council in Kent this week approved E.ON UK's planning application to build two new cleaner coal units at its Kingsnorth facility, according to BBC News.
E.ON said the new units, which will require a £1 billion investment, would be 20% cleaner than the existing plant, and if approved would be operational by 2012.
Rated at 800MW each, the new units would be more efficient than the existing units, leading to a reduction in carbon emissions of almost 2 million tonnes a year, E.ON said.
"If built, these units would be the first new coal build in the UK for over 20 years and could set a new benchmark for cleaner coal-fired generation in the UK," project manager Adrian Smith said.
The project has come up against considerable opposition, with Greenpeace spearheading the campaign.
Final approval of the project lies with the British Government.
