Vattenfall has submitted a scoping report for up to 50 turbines at the Ourack wind farm near Grantown on Spey in the Scottish Highlands.
The Swedish company said the “theoretical” size of the early-stage development would “help to ensure that as wide an area as possible is fully explored”.
It said “no assumptions” about scale would be made until more detailed analysis is available.
Vattenfall plans a Section 36 application at Ourack no sooner than late 2016.
Project manager Frank Park said: “Our scoping request to the Scottish government will lead to a major research programme that assesses potential significant effects on the local environment, landscape and economic infrastructure.
“As a result of the research programme decisions by relevant authorities on the acceptability of the Ourack wind energy project will be based on the gathered evidence.”
Image: an operational Vattenfall project in the north of Scotland (reNEWS)
Vattenfall stalks Highland game
Up to 50 turbines possible at planned Ourack project southeast of Inverness
By EBS