The implications of our findings offer potential practical solutions to the environmental challenge of carbon removal from the atmosphere. For instance, the light-driven desorption approach could be particularly advantageous in cold climates where the energy efficiency of steam-driven processes is compromised. Furthermore, the application of photo-swing CO2 capture in small modular reactors for DAC not only mitigates the cost constraints associated with steam-driven methods but also reduces the initial capital investment required, thereby fostering widespread adoption and utilization of DAC technology.