The invention relates to a double-fed asynchronous generator, which is provided with a slipring rotor (1b), and to a method for its operation. In the normal manner, the asynchronous generator has a machine-side converter (5) and a network-side converter (6). According to the invention, the asynchronous generator is designed to supply short-circuit power in that at least one machine-side rotor current (iRM) is maintained in the event of a short circuit, in order to allow the formation of a stator-side short-circuit current. In order that inherent short-circuit currents in sensitive components of the converters (5, 6) are nevertheless avoided, at least the machine-side rotor current (iRM) is maintained in such a way that the actual rotor current (iRMact) in the event of a short circuit is used as the new nominal value in a control apparatus for the asynchronous generator.