

                         INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

We consent to the use in this  Registration  Statement of The AES Corporation on
Form S-4 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 the Prospectus,  which is part of
this Registration  Statement,  and of our report dated January 30, 1997 relating
to  the  financial  statement   schedules   incorporated  by  reference  in  the
Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading
"Experts" in the Prospectus.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche  LLP
Washington, DC
August 8, 1997


