Exhibit 23.1

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this  Registration  Statement of
The AES Corporation on Form S-3 of our report dated January 30, 1997, except for
the penultimate paragraph of Note 6, as to which the date is March 13, 1997, the
pre-penultimate paragraph of Note 6, as to which the date is August 8, 1997, the
subsequent event paragraph of Note 7, as to which the date is July 15, 1997, and
Note 13, as to which the date is October 27, 1997,  appearing  in The  Company's
Current  Report on Form 8-K,  dated  November 6, 1997,  and of our report on the
consolidated  financial statement schedules dated January 30, 1997, appearing in
the  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K of The AES  Corporation,  for the year  ended
December 31, 1996 and to the  reference  to us under the  headings  "Experts" in
each Prospectus, which is part of such Registration Statement.


  /s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
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Washington, D.C.
November 7, 1997