Clean Energy Finance Corporation chief executive Oliver Yates was a foundation shareholder of private company Elementus Energy before his appointment to head the government renewables fund and retains a significant amount of shares.

He served as a director of the company from January 2011 until his appointment to head the fund in November 2012.

Mr Yates was listed as an attendee at a meeting with proponents of the One Sun Capital Solar farm with ACT Environment Minister Simon Corbell in August last year, but a spokeswoman for the Clean Energy Finance Corporation said he did not attend the meeting or advocate for the project.

A briefing note on the meeting prepared for Mr Corbell and released under Freedom of Information laws showed Elementus Energy managing director Ashleigh Antflick attended the meeting at Regatta Point, along with representatives of firms associated with the project. ACT Environment and Planning Directorate director-general Dorte Ekelund and official Jon Sibley are also listed as attendees.

The spokeswoman said Australian Securities and Investment Commission records were correct in listing Oliver Yates Holdings as the owner of 27,850 shares in Elementus.

"His interest in Elementus Energy was disclosed to the board and is registered with the CEFC," the spokeswoman said in a statement.

"On joining the CEFC Mr Yates relinquished his position as a director and chair [of Elementus Energy]. Mr Yates has sought to exit the company, but as it is a small private company his interest remains not tradeable."

She said Mr Yates was not a "proponent" of the project at the time of the meeting.

Elementus is not mentioned in Mr Yates' official biography on the fund's website, but the spokeswoman said he had experience as an investor and board member of a number of energy companies.

Mr Yates has also worked previously for Macquarie Bank. The Elementus website previously described his experience in corporate advisory, financial structuring, debt, equity raising and corporate listings.

Elementus Energy won the right to build a solar farm with a guaranteed 20-year feed-in payment from the ACT government.

The company is waiting for ACT planning planning officials to decide on a development application, amid sustained opposition from Uriarra residents about the location of the solar farm.

Residents believe a decision on the development application is imminent.

The company removed last week a listing on its website of a former partner, solar power installation company Solar Save, after The Canberra Times asked questions about its ongoing liquidation and dispute with the Australian Tax Office.

Solar Save had partnered with Elementus Energy, and its owner has operated previously at least four corporate entities with similar names. Mr Antflick said it would not be involved in the Uriarra solar project.

Elementus chairman John A. Smith was also the chairman of Jackgreen, a failed NSW green-power company that was the subject of a damning report from the NSW Energy and Water Ombudsman.

Mr Antflick was general manager of strategic operations for Jackgreen. Both men are open about their involvement with the company.

Mr Yates and Mr Antflick both declined requests for further comment.

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation uses public and private funding to support renewable energy projects, acting as a financier.

Abbott government plans to close the corporation have been frustrated by the Senate crossbenchers, including members of the Palmer United Party.