The heated exhaust from a gas turbine-powered electrical generator mounted on a structure positioned offshore on the surface of a body of water is transferred to water to be desalinated to aid in the desalination process by providing heat for distillation or by raising the temperature of water to be desalinated to a temperature more suitable for efficient desalination by reverse osmosis or another method. The electricity produced by the generator and the desalinated water produced by the desalination system are conveyed to a land-based distribution center for use on land. Concentrate produced by the desalination system can be diluted prior to discharge into the body of water to reduce the impact on the environment.