Ben Rapp

Manager, Business Development, Rehlko

With a BS in mechanical engineering and an MBA, Ben Rapp is interested in alternative fuels for power generation and has been deeply involved in researching the use of hydrogen to solve sustainability challenges through his work at Rehlko, a provider of power backup systems for industrial applications, including data centers. Recognizing the potential of hydrogen fuel cells to provide reliable, pollution-free backup power, he has led Rehlko’s transition of this technology from research and development to market readiness. The multifaceted nature of the project involved research and development efforts, where Rapp led the project alongside product management, sales, and customer engagement teams, aiming to meet market needs for decarbonization solutions. This effort culminated in a partnership with Toyota and the launch of a pilot project, showcasing a 100-kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell solution aimed at reducing data center carbon footprints without sacrificing performance.

Rapp began work with Rehlko as a mechanical engineer, advanced to senior project engineer for applications, and now serves as manager of strategic project development for power systems. A winner of the DataCloud Global Award for Young Talent of the Year in 2024 and contributor to the Greener Data anthology series, Rapp has served as a speaker for several data center industry events and publications such as Yotta, DICE, and DCD.