Solar Powers Up, Sans Silicon

[Wired News] In a world where sun-powered garden lights seem like a nifty idea, new technologies touted by solar energy startups sound very far out. … This year, solar startups have snapped up more than $100 million in venture capital to develop printable materials capable of converting sunlight into electrical power. Soaring energy demand, as well as short supplies of polysilicon, a key ingredient in most solar cells, is fueling interest in alternative materials. … While industry experts don’t expect manufacturing on a massive scale to be viable for years, production capability is ramping up quickly.