Which of the following is NOT a role of an inverter in photovoltaic systems?

In photovoltaic systems, an inverter plays several critical roles, but it does not produce more energy than what has been provided by the solar panels. The primary function of an inverter is to convert the direct current (DC) generated by solar panels into alternating current (AC), which is the standard form of electricity used in homes and businesses.

Integrating with system controls is vital because inverters often need to communicate with other components of the solar energy system, managing operations such as monitoring performance and adjusting to changes in energy demand or supply. Additionally, connecting to the grid allows the excess energy generated during peak sunlight hours to be fed back into the electrical grid, helping to stabilize energy supply and potentially providing credits to the system owner.

Therefore, because an inverter can only convert and manage the energy provided by the solar panels rather than generating additional energy beyond that, producing more energy than provided is not a role that an inverter serves in photovoltaic systems.