Hi, thanks for the feedback.
My idea was to make the list more vertical, as I often found myself looking for something in the individual lines. That's why I divided the energy supply line by line into categories: energy supply via steam (and heat), via energy collection and via plasma. Within the categories I then sorted by a mixture of source to target and required game progress. Contrary to your suggestion, I've even considered giving the boiler and steam engine their own line and making the whole thing even more vertical.
I further categorized as follows: Resource Extraction, Smelting, Production Buildings, Gleba Production Buildings (that was too much for one line), Recycling, Labs and Becon/Modules.
For me, the recycler has a kind of special status, because it doesn't melt any material and it's somewhere between the foundry and the production buildings.
I'll think about your suggestions over the next few days. You've given me an idea for a different sorting approach. When I have something presentable, I will write here again and look forward to your feedback.