Provided is an overvoltage protection device for protecting a wind turbine against overvoltage. The device includes a double fed induction generator (DFIG) including a rotor connection including a plurality of electrical connections coupled to rotor leads of the DFIG and a stator connection including a plurality of electrical connections coupled to stator leads of the DFIG. Also included is a self-triggering circuit coupled with the rotor connection and operative in response to changes in a utility grid voltage during a grid fault when an overvoltage event is detected such that the overvoltage protection circuit automatically operates, independently of a controller or a sensor, to reduce the detected overvoltage to a predetermined voltage level.