Abstract <p>In this study, we investigate biodiesel extracted from castor oil as an alternative to conventional energy sources. Two significant reasons motivated the exploration of the castor plant. First, castor trees are abundant in southern Algeria, particularly in the El Oued desert. Second, the biodiesel was extracted from castor oil through catalysis with methanol, achieving a yield of around 64%. Also, we compared the properties of our biodiesel with those of castor oil biodiesel from Egypt and Nigeria, as reported in the literature. Furthermore, we tested the biodiesel’s performance by blending it with petrodiesel to fuel an electrical generator. This phase of the study focused on evaluating environmental and energy-related parameters under different engine loads and fuel compositions. The results demonstrated the positive impact of using biodiesel as a green fuel, including reduced emissions and improved engine efficiency. These findings support the potential of biodiesel as a viable alternative fuel. Finally, based on the parameters obtained in this study, Algerian castor seed kernels can be considered a promising feedstock for oil and biodiesel production.</p>