Carrs Flour Mill at East Bridge has operated on site since 1848, and is one of only three working mills left in Scotland.

The company lodged a planning application with Fife Council for the installation of a ground-mounted 260kwp solar array on land next to its plant.

The mill, which operates 24 hours a day, said in a planning statement that it is seeking to reduce energy costs.

“Energy usage has a significant impact on the operational costs of any business and understandably, businesses are looking for cost-effective ways to manage their energy consumption to reduce the cost of utility bills and in turn, shield consumers from knock-on costs of production,” the company said.

If approved, the panels would operate silently without any moving parts or environmental emissions. Proposed wildflower meadows will also support biodiversity in the area.

Carrs’ statement added: “The proposed solar array offers a solution that meets the applications’ need for low cost energy generation while also keying into national zero carbon and planning objectives.”