High penetration of wind generation challenges wind turbine operators to supply reliable power and extract optimum power from the wind. Hence, the fault ride through (FRT) capability of wind turbine together with the optimum power tracking and regulation of wind turbine output voltage due to fluctuating nature of the wind becomes essential. In this paper, a method is proposed to ensure that the double fed induction generator (DFIG) wind turbine continues to operate during severe grid faults and maintains a constant output voltage, irrespective of the fluctuating wind. The proposed controller also allows the DFIG wind turbine to track optimum power from the wind. Extensive simulation is performed using PSCAD/EMTDC software and results obtained show that the DFIG output voltage fulfills the grid code requirements. The results also show that the proposed method is able to track the optimum power, regulate the DFIG output voltage and perform fault ride through of wind turbine. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.