
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

We consent to the  incorporation  by reference  in  Registration  Statement  No.
333-15487 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, and Note 13, as to which the date is June 30, 1997, appearing in
this Current Report on Form 8-K of The AES Corporation dated July 3, 1997.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Washington, DC
July 3, 1997

