Green bank welcomes Palmer's support

The so-called "green bank" has welcomed Clive Palmer's surprise pledge to save it from the chopping block, but concedes its future is really up to parliament.

The maverick crossbench MP and Palmer United Party leader has thrown his support behind the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, vowing his Senate team will block the Abbott government's bid to shut it down.

The Senate has already twice blocked legislation to scrap the corporation, but the government launched another bid on Thursday when it introduced a fresh abolition bill to parliament.

The government had been counting on the new senators supporting its agenda from July 1, but with Palmer's crucial voting bloc not on board the green bank could live to fight another day.

Corporation CEO Oliver Yates cautiously welcomed the unexpected development.

"Naturally we are encouraged by statements of support for the work of the CEFC," Mr Yates told AAP in a statement.

"At the same time, we remain conscious that the future of the CEFC is a matter for the Australian government and the parliament to properly determine."

The corporation was assigned $10 billion over five years to drive private sector investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency programs.

Mr Palmer is not the first politician to champion its cause, with Labor and the Australian Greens long arguing it had performed well above expectations and was the victim of an ideological attack.

Revelations the corporation's activities had no adverse impact on government debt and was actually delivering a return for taxpayers raised particular questions about the merit of axing it.

The corporation since July 2013 has invested about $700 million in projects worth more than $2.5 billion - generating nearly four times its own outlay.

Despite the political uncertainty clouding its future, Mr Yates said interest "remains strong" with more new investments to be announced soon.