Site selection and system sizing of desalination plants powered with renewable energy sources based on a web-GIS platformSite selection and system sizing of desalination plants powered with renewable energy sources based on a web-GIS platform Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication Δημοσίευση σε Περιοδικό με Κριτές 2023-05-032022enThe work presented in this paper has been implemented within the framework of the research project DES2iRES: DESign of DESalination systems based on optimal usage of multiple RES (ERANETMED NEXUS-14–049) supported by the ERA-NET Initiative EUROMEDITERRANEAN Cooperation through ERANET joint activities and beyond (ERANETMED) under the topic ERANETMED Energy-Water nexus. In Greece, this work was funded by the Operational Program Competitiveness, Entrepreneur-ship and Innovation 2014–2020 (co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund) and managed by the Greek General Secretariat of Research and Technology, Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs of Greece under the project DES2iRES (T3EPA-00017) of the ERANET action.Purpose The combination of desalination technology with renewable energy sources (RES) provides a sustainable approach for increasing potable water availability without imposing negative environmental effects. This paper aims to present the development of a platform, which is an internet-based tool integrating the design optimization of desalination systems with spatial modeling based on a geographic information system (GIS). Design/methodology/approach The proposed platform assists decision-makers to select the optimal location and configuration of both the energy- and water-related subsystems of desalination plants that are power-supplied by RES, such that the lifetime cost of the overall desalination plant is minimized. It enables to optimize the desalination plant site selection and sizing with various hybrid power supply (solar, wind, wave and electrical grid power systems) and desalination technologies combinations, while simultaneously exploiting spatial technologies in an internet-based GIS platform. Findings A pilot study for the optimal design of stand-alone and grid-connected desalination plants powered by RES is presented, which demonstrates the functionality and features of the proposed platform. It is also shown that a grid-connected desalination plant designed by the proposed software design tool exhibits significantly lower lifetime installation and maintenance costs compared to its stand-alone counterpart. Originality/value The proposed platform combines technological, scientific and industrial knowledge with information about societal/political conditions and geo-spatial technologies in a user-friendly graphical interface. Therefore, it provides a design tool enabling its users to secure water supply in a sustainable and economically viable manner.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/International Journal of Energy Sector Management163469–492 Koutroulis Eftychios Κουτρουλης Ευτυχιος Petrakis George Agou Vasiliki Αγου Βασιλικη Malisovas Athanasios Μαλισοβας Αθανασιος Christopoulos Dionysios Χριστοπουλος Διονυσιος Partsinevelos Panagiotis Παρτσινεβελος Παναγιωτης Tripolitsiotis Achilleas Τριπολιτσιωτης Αχιλλεας Halouani Nabila Ailliot Pierre Boutigny Marrie Monbet, Valérie, 1970- Allard Denis Cuzol Anne Kolokotsa Dionysia Κολοκοτσα Διονυσια Varouchakis Emmanouil Βαρουχακης Εμμανουηλ Kokolakis Konstantinos Κοκολακης Κωνσταντινος Mertikas Stylianos Μερτικας Στυλιανος Emerald Decision-making Simulation Optimization Renewable energies Electricity Cost comparison Cost minimization Evolutionary programming Desalination Renewable energy sources Geographical information systems Energy management