Exhibit 23.1

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

We  consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in this  Amendment  No.  1 to
Registration  Statement No. 333-39857 of The AES Corporation 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 Current  Report on Form 8-K of The AES  Corporation,
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 19, 1997