I've also noticed that commerical GTL installations are not moving that fast.

Whats interesting is GTL seems to me at least to be the easiest of the synthetic fuel methods.
http://www.chemlink.com.au/gtl.htm

Also you have excess hydrogen that could be coupled with Ammonia synthesis so selling Ammonia should help a lot with the cost aspect. Other synfuel sources don't have this excess hydrogen.

Given that GTL is in my opinion the best alternative to oil I find it interesting that its not growing like it seems like it could.

Do you have and opinion on whats causing GTL to stumble ?

Do you have and opinion on whats causing GTL to stumble ?

Having spent a few years on GTL, I know exactly what's causing it to stumble: Capital costs.

You are right, GTL is the easiest. That should put the rest of these gasification schemes into perspective. If GTL is the easiest (and cheapest), then what does that suggest about these CTL and BTL schemes? That they are a long ways off.