ScottishPower wants to build 67 turbines near the village of Forth in South Lanarkshire.

To date, the largest wind farms north of the border have contained between 30 and 40 turbines.

It is estimated that the project would provide enough power for more than 80,000 homes.

The energy is transformed into electricity

It would also aim to attract black grouse, one of the fastest declining birds in Scotland, to the site.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds favours the plan.

The society is working with ScottishPower to try to create the right conditions for black grouse at the site.

The wind farm would also help cut the greenhouse gases which cause climate change and pose a threat to wildlife.

ScottishPower hopes to build the project on the former mining site at Black Law, which could be operational by 2003.

Electricity supplier

It would be one of the largest in the UK and its construction would create up to 200 jobs, with local firms being encouraged to tender for �6m worth of contracts.

The electricity supplier has also lodged proposals to build an even larger wind farm on Eaglesham Moor, near Glasgow.

With 140 turbines, this project could generate enough electricity to power 150,000 homes.

However, local residents raised fears of lightning strikes and pollution when the plan was unveiled last August.

Rotating hub

In December, proposals to create what would be Europe's biggest wind farm on the Hebridean island of Lewis were announced.

UK firms Amec and British Energy have embarked on a year-long feasibility study into cost, location and environmental impact of the �600m scheme, which would involve 300 huge turbines.

Wind power works by wind passing over blades of a wind turbine and rotating a hub.

This is connected to a gearbox and generator, which transforms the energy into electricity.

The UK Government has a target of producing 10% of energy from renewable resources by 2010.