Following the publication of the EU Military mobility package in November 2025 and the recent efforts on the Maritime front with the FuelEU Maritime Regulation, and RED III, Ireland recently published its first National Maritime Security Strategy (2026–2030), published on February 25th by Minister for Defence Helen McEntee. This strategy focuses on safeguarding critical offshore infrastructure, improving surveillance, and strengthening resilience across Ireland’s waters. With energy and security policy becoming increasingly intertwined, Ireland’s push to develop a green hydrogen economy, through the development of critical infrastructure, is likely to intersect closely with the strategy. In this context, the National Maritime Security Strategy is not just a defence tool, but a key enabler of Ireland’s long-term energy transition and its ambitions to become a major player in the European hydrogen market. Through the efforts of the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and the Department of Transport, the strategy highlights work to be done on energy security policy, offshore renewable energy policy, and stakeholder engagement to support the rollout of onshore power supply infrastructure nationwide.
Although hydrogen is not mentioned in the strategy, it assesses the maritime security environment in the context of new EU resilience measures, Ireland’s strategic position on key transatlantic data cables and energy interconnectors, and its reliance on maritime supply chains and imports for over 80% of its natural gas supply. The Irish Hydrogen Strategy envisions large-scale offshore wind projects powering hydrogen production, alongside new infrastructure (subsea cables, pipelines, and port-based export terminals, etc). Ireland’s reliance on offshore wind to produce hydrogen means that energy security will increasingly depend on assets located at sea. This marks a shift from traditional land-based energy systems toward a maritime-centred model, where protecting shipping routes, energy corridors, and offshore installations becomes essential to national resilience.
A significant element of the Maritime Security Strategy is the strengthening of regional partnerships, particularly with our nearest neighbours, the United Kingdom and France — a move that can be linked to the advancement of hydrogen development in both countries. The United Kingdom is scaling up green hydrogen production alongside major offshore wind expansion, while France is investing heavily in low-carbon hydrogen as part of its industrial and energy transition. The strategy states that UK-Ireland cooperation will “encompass activities relating to energy and electricity, data collection and usage, joint research initiatives on seabed mapping”, while the ‘France-Ireland 2026-2030 Joint Strategic Framework’ builds on the positive impact of the first Ireland-France Joint Plan and includes close cooperation in maritime security, including respective armed forces. To RTE, the Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces, Rossa Mulcahy, said that Ireland will also pursue an opportunity to establish links with the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) under the Irish National Maritime Security strategy, participating in a wider group known as JEF-Plus. The JEK is a UK-led alliance which also consists of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, the Netherlands, and Sweden [NATO members].
However, there are also clear contradictory views in Ireland about strengthening a maritime security strategy versus worries about capability gaps, neutrality, and political direction. For example, TD Paul Murphy had intense exchanges with the Taoiseach in the Dáil, adding that “The best defence that Ireland has is a consistent position of neutrality”. The discussion points raised by interested individuals or groups through the 7-question public consultation form developed by the Irish Government are available in the Consultation Redacted replies, combined in 11 parts, on the consultation website.
After analysing the consultation documents and submissions received, it appears that although not currently a primary concern for maritime security, hydrogen is becoming increasingly important within Ireland’s changing energy landscape, particularly in relation to maritime security, critical infrastructure, and offshore energy systems. Within responses:
– Hydrogen is increasingly seen as part of this wider maritime domain, linked to renewable (offshore) energy and seabed infrastructure. Its security implications are therefore viewed systemically, with emphasis on protecting infrastructure, strengthening resilience, and strategic planning for future development.
– Ports are expected to become a central piece of this overlap, transforming into hubs for hydrogen storage, processing, and export, as well as refuelling stations for low-emission shipping. Secure ports and sea lanes make it more viable to transport hydrogen or hydrogen carriers. Together, these developments can significantly expand the range of high-value assets located in Ireland’s maritime domain.
The National Maritime Security Strategy is organised around six objectives, and will remain flexible and regularly updated by the Maritime Strategy Working Group to reflect changing circumstances, risks, threats, and emerging opportunities. What are your thoughts? Will the Irish National Maritime Security Strategy support the Hydrogen Economy?