People are turning to cleaner sources of energy. because of worldwide climate change and rising global temperatures. Biodiesel is an alternative fuel that can make the Earth a healthier place to live in. Today, there is increasing expansion in the production, distribution and use of this fuel.

Biodiesel is produced through transesterification, a chemical process where oils and fats in plants and animals are processed into the substances of the fuel. As early as 1853, scientists J. Patrick and E. Duffy had already conducted some kind of transesterification.

In 1900, Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the diesel engine, demonstrated a diesel engine that ran on peanut oil at the World Fair in Paris. However, this peanut oil fuel is not considered biodiesel because it didn't go through the transesterification process.

Countries, such as the United Kingdom, China, Japan, and France tested and experimented with vegetable oils throughout the 1920s and 1930s. However, they encountered some problems because the viscosity of the oils led to engine deposits.

In 1931, the first biodiesel was produced by G. Chavanne of Belgium. Since then, various research have been conducted to improve the production of biodiesel. In the 1990s, European countries began installing biodiesel power plants. Today, manufacturers can use several sources to make biodiesel, like plant oils from sunflower, palm, peanut, canola, or soybean

All around the world today, biodiesel use is expanding. In Australia, almost all metropolitan trains and buses in Adelaide run on 5% biodiesel mixed with petroleum. In Canada, the government has set a goal of 500 million liters of biodiesel by 2010. In Finland, an oil company plans to build a production plant with a capacity of 170,000 tons per year.

In Scotland a power plant capable of producing 50 million liters per year opened in 2005. Meanwhile, in Brazil, three biodiesel factories have been producing 45.6 million liters each year. In India, the government encourages the cultivation of Jatropha plants. The oil of this plant is used for railway engines.

Farmers In the United States, farmers use the fuel in their tractors to raise public awareness. Aside from these countries, Costa Rica, Belgium, Singapore, Thailand, Norway, the Czech Republic, and others have also already taken steps to increase their biodiesel production.

With improved fuel technology and larger biodiesel networks, the Earth may see a better future with this clean and green fuel.