Energy giant E.ON has moved one step closer to building a carbon capture and storage plant at Kingsnorth in Hoo.

The firm has submitted scoping reports outlining plans for a pipeline to take emissions from the proposed coal-fired power station to the North Sea.

The pipeline could form part of a carbon capture storage (CCS) Thames cluster - transporting emissions from up five power stations in the South East.

The final proposals are expected to be submitted to Medway Council towards the end of this year.

Ed Walker, E.ON’s project development manager, said: "As we have done at every stage, we’ll be working closely with local communities across the Hoo Peninsula to update them on our plans and to take their views on board."

"Far from being just about one project, we believe that Kingsnorth has an exciting role to play as a gateway to unlocking the South East energy industry’s potential to decarbonise, something that will become increasingly important as we make the move to a low carbon future."

In October 2009, E.ON announced it was putting the plans for the new coal-fired power units at Kingsnorth on hold until at least 2011. The firm is still in the running for the government’s carbon capture and storage competition to win £1 billion funding to develop the technology.

A series of public exhibitions is planned across the Hoo Peninsula, starting at the end of April. Further information on times and venues will be published in the coming weeks. People can also get in touch with E.ON, either by email on peninsulaenquiries@eon-uk.com or call 08000 198 315.