The Kent coal plant which was temporarily shut down by Greenpeace campaigners in a publicity stunt in 2008 will close for good next year.

E.ON announced yesterday it is closing the coal-powered plant to fall in line with EU emissions rules.

The Kingsnorth power station will go offline in March 2013 as set out by the EU’s Large Combustion Plant Directive. This means plants must close after generating for 20,000 hours from 1 January 2008 or at the end of 2015, whichever comes first.

Dr. Tony Cocker, CEO of E.ON UK said: “Kingsnorth has played a huge part in powering the country for many decades. We’ve been working hard with colleagues at the station to help, guide and support them through the process which will be ongoing until the station closes.”

Plans to convert the plant with Carbon Capture & Storage technology recently faltered because it is new and expensive.

However E.ON has not ruled out future plans on the site.

Greenpeace greeted news of the plant’s end as a win for the environment.

Campaigner Ben Stewart, who was one of six campaigners acquitted of criminal damage in 2008 after shutting down the coal plant, said: “This decision signals the drawing to an end of unabated highly polluting coal in Britain.

“E.ON now has an opportunity to change path and back modern renewable energy technologies and not make the same mistake again by chasing after polluting gas.”