A groundbreaking £2bn power station is planned with the potential for providing electricity for almost every home in Scotland.

The proposed new-generation plant would be the biggest completed in Scotland for almost 40 years and would be the only one in the country powered by both "clean coal" and biomass fuel.

If given the go-ahead, it would sit next to the existing nuclear reactor site and the coal import terminal at Hunterston in Ayrshire, with planning permission being sought next summer.

It also strengthens the case against further nuclear reactors being built in Scotland.

Last night, there was broad approval for the scheme from politicians, but environmental groups pushing to reduce Britain's heavy dependency on polluting fossil fuels were largely sceptical about the project's green credentials.

According to those behind the plans, the power station, which would be powered by coal and up to 15% biomass with an output of 1600 megawatts, would use state-of-the-art technology to deliver the highest standards of efficiency and could provide average levels of electricity for two million homes.

Its backers insist "clean coal" is distinct from old coal technologies while the plant will also be suited for generating power from burning biomass - by-products from forestry and farming.

On coal alone, it is claimed, the new technology would reduce carbon emissions by up to 25% compared to conventional coal-fired power stations.

The first of two 800 megawatt plants could be operating by 2014, but the more realistic timetable is for a switch-on 10 years from now.

Up to 1500 jobs would be created during the construction phase and up to 150 posts when it is operational. Denmark's state-owned energy company, Dong, is behind the proposal, with partners Peel Energy.

They claim it would be ready to incorporate carbon capture and storage technology, which pumps emissions for storage in oil wells, giving it the potential to capture up to 90% of the carbon emissions.

It is hoped the Hunterston location may reduce planning objections while the deep-water port facilities would remove the need for further transportation of imported coal.

Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy welcomed the news, adding: "While the project to build a co- firing station at Hunterston is clearly at a very early stage, it could form a welcome step forward in addressing a future energy gap."

Owen Michaelson, chairman of Peel Energy, said: "Scotland is facing a severe shortfall in electricity as demand continues to grow and old power stations are decommissioned. Peel Energy is also developing renewable energy facilities, but these will not meet the growing gap in base-load' capacity."

Jens Kragholm, project manager at Dong, added: "We are at a very early stage in the process and just starting the initial environmental investigations based on an outline design."

The plans come just two days after the Scottish Government issued guidance stating that new fossil fuel power stations should be ready for carbon capture technology, adding that it was consulting on requirements that new plants over 300 megawatts should be able to incorporate it in the future.

However, Duncan McLaren, of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: "No new coal-fired power station should be approved by the Scottish Government unless it operates carbon capture from day one, or meets an equivalently tough emissions performance standard by other means."

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