Research Island for Unlocking Alternative Technologies and Renewable Power

I would like to suggest adding a special Research Island located outside the player's main island and accessible through the World Map.
Players could deliver very large quantities of resources to this island—for example, 5,000 Steel—in order to complete major research projects and unlock alternative technologies. These technologies could provide new production methods for important materials and resources, such as alternative ways to produce Diesel, Biomass, Silicon, and other essential products.
The main purpose of this suggestion is to increase the number of viable production paths available to players. At present, many resources have only a limited number of production methods. Additional alternatives would make island design, resource management, and long-term planning more varied and interesting.
These alternative production chains would not necessarily need to be easier or more efficient. For example, they could require enormous amounts of electricity, complicated multi-stage production chains, rare catalysts, or substantial infrastructure. In exchange, they could offer higher production efficiency, reduce dependence on limited natural resources, or provide access to more advanced materials.
The Research Island could also serve as a major late-game resource sink and give players additional long-term objectives after establishing a stable industrial economy.
I would also like to see additional renewable and alternative power-generation technologies, especially:
• Wind power
• Wave power
These systems could depend on location, weather, coastline availability, or variable power output, so they would complement existing power plants rather than completely replace them.
I believe these additions would provide more strategic choices, encourage different island layouts, and improve the variety and replayability of the late game.