Britain's electricity generators are planning to build several coal-fired power stations despite the controversy over the greenhouse gas emissions that they would produce.

The firms say they need to replace existing coal-fired stations because so many are being closed by European directives aimed at cutting pollution.

New coal-burning power stations will infuriate green groups, who fear that they will jeopardise Britain’s pledge to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050.

This week Gordon Brown will give a speech to the British Wind Energy Association’s annual conference, supporting its plans to add another 5,000 onshore wind turbines to the 2,000 already built.

This would add several gigawatts of renewable power generation capacity to the national grid but would “industrialise” many of Britain’s most beautiful landscapes.

The generating groups have pledged to make any new coal-fired power stations ready for carbon capture if trials of the technology prove successful.

Bob Taylor, managing director of generation at E.ON, the German energy group which is one of Britain’s biggest power companies, said: “Between now and 2030 we have to replace 60% of Britain’s power generating capacity. If we ignore coal, that leaves us relying on foreign gas suppliers and that would be a bad position to be in.”

E.ON’s plans are the most advanced. It has already lodged a planning application for a power station at Kingsnorth in north Kent.

This weekend RWE Npower, another generator, confirmed that it was considering lodging applications for two more coal-fired stations within the next few months.

“We are studying sites at Tilbury in Essex and Blyth in Northumberland,” RWE said.

ScottishPower also wants to expand or upgrade its two coal-fired stations including Longannet, Fife, which is the second biggest source of greenhouse gases in Britain, producing 10m a year. tons of CO2 Similarly, Scottish and Southern Energy is drawing up plans for a £250m upgrade of its Ferrybridge power station in West Yorkshire.

In Britain coal still generates about 36% of the nation’s electricity.

James Hansen, a leading Nasa scientist who has described coal as “the enemy of mankind”, said: “We need an immediate moratorium preventing additional coal-fired power plants being built.”

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