He also said they were cheaper by a factor of 4 or 5. If he's right on his numbers, his technology will outcompete silicon based cells. Whether it's competitive with fossil fuels any time before the 22nd century is another matter. His numbers ($1.00 vs $0.50) suggest it's not currently competitive. But that's a lot closer to being competitive than silicon.
If Silicon cells were *FREE* they would NOT be a viable alternative for our energy needs.
Anybody who can do elementary school math should know this.