SINGAPORE — It started with just one question seven years ago: Can you make biodiesel — a diesel fuel made from vegetable oil or animal fat — straight from the kitchen?

And as he set about finding the answer, Mexican Daniel Gomez started on his path to set up a biodiesel company that earned US$3 million (S$3.7 million) in sales last year.

Then 16, Mr Gomez tried to set up a makeshift biodiesel plant in his kitchen, using vegetable oil he collected from nearby restaurants.

It did not last long though, he recalled, chortling. His mother eventually kicked him out of the kitchen because of the constant smell of oil emitting from his “laboratory”.

Undeterred, he snuck into a local university to learn more about the process of making biodiesel.

“I began searching for professors and one agreed to teach me. For the first time, I could make biodiesel in a formal way. Every day I learnt something new … and (over time) I knew I could do that for the rest of my life,” the 23-year-old entrepreneur said, speaking at the World Entrepreneurship Forum that was held in Singapore two weeks ago.

As his passion for renewable energy grew, Mr Gomez set up a non-profit foundation in 2007 with three friends to conduct biodiesel research. The organisation later became a for-profit, and the quartet opened their first plant after discovering a new way to produce biodiesel.

To make the fuel, a typical biodiesel facility can only process one type of raw material — such as vegetable oil — causing it to be dependent on that material. The four thus developed a technology allowing the plant to process any type of oil or animal fat into biodiesel.

Named Solben, the company now sells technology, products and services to produce biodiesel from nonfood products. It employs 15 people and counts as clients more than 80 per cent of biodiesel-producing companies in Mexico.

It also supplies the fuel and its biodiesel production has increased 10-fold from 1.9 million litres in 2010 to 19 million litres this year.

The entrepreneurs have since garnered many awards, such as the New York Stock Exchange Intelius Entrepreneurship Award and Global Student Entrepreneur Award.

Despite his successes, the eco-warrior continues seeking new ways or technology to give his company an edge in the market.

Describing the present period as the “green boom”, Mr Gomez is optimistic of the future of the global biodiesel market, and plans to expand to Asia, starting with Malaysia.

Beyond his business ambitions, Mr Gomez is a firm believer in youth entrepreneurship and calls on young people to “make an impact on society with what they like to do”, instead of merely chasing profits.

He said: “When I started, people were telling me to buy biodiesel technology from Europe or the United States and then resell it to the Mexican government. They told me I could make a lot of money.

“But I told them it’s not just about making money,” he stated. “It’s more about (coming up with) greater solutions for biodiesel production in my community. I wanted to create our own Mexican technology and teach our people how to operate it.”