The paper deals in detail with the issue of selecting the optimal relay protection system for the stator winding of a synchronous generator against short circuits to the ground, depending on the method of connecting the generator to the network and the method of its grounding. Different methods of implementing the so-called 95% ground fault protection and the so-called 100% ground fault protection of the generator stator are considered. Attention is also paid to the method of mutual coordination of various protection functions. The selection and setting of protection against short circuits to the ground is shown using the example of a specific generator.