This　paper　proposed　a　comprehensive　control　method　for　energy　storage　system　(ESS)　participating　in　primary　frequency　regulation　(PFR).　The　integrated　control　strategy　consists　of　PFR　stage　and　＇stage　of　charge＇　(SOC)　recovery　stage.　In　the　PFR　stage,　the　virtual　droop　control　and　virtual　inertia　control　are　combined　and　applied　in　the　frequency　deterioration　phase　to　reduce　the　frequency　deviation.　The　virtual　negative　inertia　control　coupled　with　virtual　droop　control　is　used　in　the　frequency　recovery　phase　to　accelerate　frequency　recovery.　In　the　SOC　recovery　stage,　an　adaptive　SOC　recovery　control　method　is　proposed.　The　SOC　recovery　control　is　performed　while　the　frequency　is　within　the　dead　zone,　and　the　recovery　power　of　ESS　is　based　on　the　SOC　to　avoid　overcharging　and　over-discharging.　The　proposed　SOC　recovery　control　can　restore　the　SOC　to　a　proper　range　which　ensures　the　potential　for　ESS　to　participate　in　the　next　PFR　process.　It　also　reduces　the　number　of　SOC　recovery　starts　compared　with　the　fixed　target　SOC　method　and　is　beneficial　to　prolong　the　cycle　life　of　ESS.　Simulation　outcomes　demonstrate　that　the　proposed　comprehensive　control　method　can　efficiently　enhance　the　frequency　regulation　performance　and　restore　the　SOC　to　the　target　range.　©　2021　The　Authors.　International　Transactions　on　Electrical　Energy　Systems　published　by　John　Wiley　&　Sons　Ltd.